2011 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
76,172 MOT tests on the 2011 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 81.0% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 19.6%, so the 2011 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.6%) and lighting & signalling (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 4,473 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.6% versus 11.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (19.1% vs 15.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.6% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.6% | 6,580 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 6,426 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 4,540 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,162 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.7% | 2,045 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,064 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 4,473 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 3,069 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,869 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,622 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,508 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,832 |
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 | 25.1% | 19,149 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 13,643 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.0% | 12,181 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 6,402 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 5,904 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 3,520 |
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 | 275 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,961 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 11,277 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 21,210 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 20,905 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 19,528 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 72,849 | 19.1% |
| Petrol | 3,316 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,264 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 16,583 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 15,444 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 14,086 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 12,795 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 5 Series
On a 2011 5 Series, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 2011 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 76,172 2011 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 BMW 5 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.4%).
Does the 2011 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,172 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.