2014 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 BMW 5 Series passed 86.6% of its 93,158 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 15.5% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and suspension (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 3,162 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.9% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.1% fail against 13.5% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 92,845 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,643 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.3% | 3,095 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,869 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 2,348 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 2,004 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 938 |
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 | 3,162 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,896 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,677 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,483 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,288 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,170 |
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 | 23.0% | 21,437 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 14,510 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 6,656 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 6,143 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,888 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 1,864 |
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 | 1,288 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 11,871 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 27,513 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 26,053 | 13.6% |
| 120-150k | 15,629 | 14.3% |
| 150k+ | 10,790 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 90,609 | 13.5% |
| Petrol | 2,236 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 313 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,247 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 19,073 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 18,609 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 18,353 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 17,876 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (3.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2014 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 93,158 2014 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by suspension (3.3%).
Does the 2014 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,158 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.