2009 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
47,771 MOT tests on the 2009 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 80.5% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 2.2pp 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 (8.3%) and lighting & signalling (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are linkage ball joint dust cover, tread depth and track rod end — linkage ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 2,144 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 20.7% in the 150k+ band, a 14.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.8% fail against 19.6% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 47,771 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 3,961 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 3,756 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 3,239 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 2,018 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.9% | 1,406 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,388 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,144 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,828 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,458 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,332 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,268 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,238 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.8% | 12,794 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 10,385 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.7% | 9,900 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.8% | 4,666 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 3,881 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 3,558 |
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 | 168 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,316 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,573 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 10,964 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 13,467 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 17,268 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 44,873 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 2,898 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,036 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 10,558 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 9,727 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 8,666 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 7,784 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.8% 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 2009 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 47,771 2009 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 BMW 5 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.9%).
Does the 2009 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,771 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.