2018 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
109,330 MOT tests on the 2018 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 89.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests against 1.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,305 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 5 Series fails 8.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.0% fail against 12.1% for hybrid, a 3.1-point gap across 51,743 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 7,441 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,434 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 1,114 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.9% | 953 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 905 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 888 |
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 | 2,305 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,074 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 966 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 835 |
| 5 | Washers | 655 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 569 |
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 | 18.9% | 20,687 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 6,602 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 5,849 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 5,805 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 3,333 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 1,969 |
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 | 23,774 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 47,678 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 25,587 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,141 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,366 | 11.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,174 | 10.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 57,586 | 9.6% |
| Hybrid | 30,335 | 12.1% |
| Petrol | 21,408 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,714 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 22,342 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 21,496 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 21,138 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 20,640 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.0% 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 2018 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 109,330 2018 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2018 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,330 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.