2007 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 55,779 MOT tests, the 2007 BMW 5 Series recorded a 78.8% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 23.1% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.0%) and lighting & signalling (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, track rod end and linkage ball joint dust cover — tread depth alone was recorded 2,401 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.7% in the 0-30k band and 22.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.1% fail against 21.5% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 55,779 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.0% | 5,586 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 4,831 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 3,832 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.3% | 3,526 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.9% | 2,151 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,690 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,401 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 2,186 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,146 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,952 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,719 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,496 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.9% | 16,149 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 15,489 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 13,957 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 7,120 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.0% | 6,118 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 5,510 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 120 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 863 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,458 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,969 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 14,749 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 27,591 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 50,013 | 21.5% |
| Petrol | 5,766 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,647 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 12,698 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 11,391 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 9,774 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 8,269 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 55,779 2007 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 BMW 5 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.7%).
Does the 2007 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,779 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.