2020 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 BMW 5 Series passed 90.4% of its 30,518 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 9.9%, so the 2020 5 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.7% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 438 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.1% versus 7.7%.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (11.1% vs 8.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.9% in 2021 to 10.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.7% | 2,053 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 341 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 311 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 257 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 224 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 166 |
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 | 438 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 334 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 273 |
| 4 | Washers | 128 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 124 |
| 6 | Wipers | 99 |
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 | 17.4% | 5,310 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.5% | 1,363 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 1,186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 750 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 697 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 359 |
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 | 10,934 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 14,194 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,999 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,013 | 11.0% |
| 120-150k | 262 | 11.8% |
| 150k+ | 112 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 19,618 | 9.7% |
| Petrol | 6,317 | 8.2% |
| Hybrid | 4,579 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 132 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 750 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 10,341 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 9,764 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 9,531 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 5 Series
On a 2020 5 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.0% 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 2020 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 30,518 2020 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.1%).
Does the 2020 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,518 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.