2016 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
87,773 MOT tests on the 2016 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 89.3% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests against 2.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 2,895 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.8% of the time against 10.7% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 5,190 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 2,087 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 1,479 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 1,406 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 1,324 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 745 |
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 | 2,895 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,373 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,260 |
| 4 | Washers | 980 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 729 |
| 6 | Attachment | 604 |
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 | 21.4% | 18,760 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 12,663 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 5,370 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 3,176 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 3,133 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,526 |
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 | 4,441 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 27,814 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 29,955 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 15,539 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 6,229 | 11.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,784 | 11.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 85,667 | 10.7% |
| Petrol | 2,087 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,804 | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 17,724 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 17,660 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 17,427 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 17,158 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (2.4% 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.
- Brakes (1.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2016 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 87,773 2016 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2016 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 11.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 87,773 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.