2021 BMW 5 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
13,954 MOT tests on the 2021 BMW 5 Series are in this dataset, and 90.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (9.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, road wheels and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests against 1.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 191 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 5 Series fails 8.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.2% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 6.4% fail against 11.2% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 8,451 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.7% in 2021 to 9.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 1,034 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 200 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 184 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 97 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 95 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 58 |
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 | 191 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 185 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 94 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 69 |
| 5 | Wipers | 55 |
| 6 | Washers | 49 |
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 | 17.2% | 2,399 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.1% | 573 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 381 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 353 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 232 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 114 |
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 | 5,138 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 6,735 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,598 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 369 | 10.6% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 9.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,060 | 11.2% |
| Hybrid | 5,501 | 9.4% |
| Petrol | 1,391 | 6.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 40 | 2.5% |
| 2023 | 517 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 6,786 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 6,563 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 5 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.4% 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.
- Road wheels (1.4% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- 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.
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 2021 BMW 5 Seriess pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 13,954 2021 BMW 5 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 BMW 5 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by road wheels (1.4%).
Does the 2021 5 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,954 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.