2017 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 BMW 5 Series passed 89.3% of its 86,195 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 11.6%, so the 2017 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.2% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, tread depth and joints — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,742 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 5 Series fails 8.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.7pp more often than diesel ones (12.2% vs 10.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 5,366 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.6% | 1,387 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 1,256 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 896 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 886 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 838 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 1,742 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,577 |
| 3 | Joints | 844 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 750 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 727 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 607 |
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 | 18.2% | 15,725 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 7,516 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 7,286 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 4,399 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,778 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 2,177 |
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 | 9,837 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 34,599 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 25,850 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 10,460 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,358 | 12.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,636 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 68,627 | 10.5% |
| Petrol | 9,958 | 10.9% |
| Hybrid | 7,605 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,838 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 17,306 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 17,301 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 17,010 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 16,740 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 5 Series
On a 2017 5 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (1.6% 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 (1.5% 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 2017 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 86,195 2017 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by suspension (1.6%).
Does the 2017 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 86,195 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.