2015 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 95,906 MOT tests, the 2015 BMW 5 Series recorded an 88.4% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (14.1% fail rate), the 2015 5 Series comes out 2.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.1% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 3,254 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 12.7% in the 150k+ band, a 6.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (11.7% vs 9.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 5,821 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,575 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 2,222 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,750 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,637 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 879 |
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 | 3,254 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,737 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,350 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,157 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,050 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 914 |
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 | 21.9% | 21,000 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 14,766 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 6,413 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 5,134 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 3,555 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,306 |
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 | 2,313 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 20,282 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 32,254 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 23,057 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 11,079 | 12.2% |
| 150k+ | 6,913 | 12.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 92,386 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 3,335 | 9.9% |
| Hybrid | 185 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,523 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 19,280 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 19,379 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 18,986 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 18,738 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 5 Series
On a 2015 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.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
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 2015 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 95,906 2015 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by visibility (2.7%).
Does the 2015 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 95,906 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.