2013 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 BMW 5 Series passed 83.2% of its 86,552 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 16.9%, so the 2013 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and suspension (6.0%) 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 4,023 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.4% versus 10.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (16.9% vs 14.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,314 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.0% | 5,198 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 4,982 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,719 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 2,178 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 882 |
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 | 4,023 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,088 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,199 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,862 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,622 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,538 |
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 | 23.7% | 20,532 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 14,387 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 7,377 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 6,954 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 3,821 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 2,603 |
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 | 673 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,375 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 21,884 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 26,173 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 17,427 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 13,016 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 84,086 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 2,353 | 14.4% |
| Hybrid | 109 | 12.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,049 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 17,790 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 17,472 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 16,833 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 16,408 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 5 Series
On a 2013 5 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (6.0% 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 (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2013 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 86,552 2013 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by suspension (6.0%).
Does the 2013 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 86,552 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.