2012 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 BMW 5 Series passed 81.5% of its 87,131 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (18.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and suspension (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 5,209 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.3% versus 11.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.4% fail against 18.7% for diesel, a 5.3-point gap across 86,980 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 7,120 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.8% | 6,817 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,344 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,564 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 2,280 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 927 |
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 | 5,209 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,363 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,778 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,481 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2,172 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,627 |
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 | 24.4% | 21,292 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.3% | 15,037 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 10,799 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.1% | 7,911 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 4,003 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 3,880 |
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 | 390 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 5,177 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 17,697 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 26,091 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 20,665 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 17,098 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 84,466 | 18.7% |
| Petrol | 2,514 | 13.4% |
| Hybrid | 115 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,804 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 18,259 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 17,574 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 16,713 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 15,781 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 2012 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 87,131 2012 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 BMW 5 Series?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.8%).
Does the 2012 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 87,131 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.