BMW 550i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 550i recorded a 83.0% MOT pass rate across 1,538 tests in this dataset (model years 1997–2021), with suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres its most common failure areas. Its 17.0% fail rate is higher than the 15.7% average across all BMW 5 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 183 | 82.0% | 18.0% |
| 2006 | 415 | 78.5% | 21.4% |
| 2007 | 233 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2008 | 115 | 84.4% | 15.7% |
| 2009 | 60 | 83.3% | 16.7% |
| 2010 | 181 | 85.1% | 14.9% |
| 2011 | 104 | 88.5% | 11.5% |
| 2012 | 31 | 83.9% | 16.1% |
| 2014 | 96 | 88.5% | 11.5% |
| 2015 | 45 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.8% | 104 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 78 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 70 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 55 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 43 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 23 |
| 7 | Steering | 1.5% | 23 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 35 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 35 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 25 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 21 |
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 | 17.0% | 262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 237 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.3% | 235 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 203 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.9% | 90 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 70 |
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 | 88 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 251 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 369 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 294 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 324 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 307 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 277 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 299 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a BMW 550i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
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 reliable is the BMW 550i at MOT time?
83.0% of the 1,538 BMW 550i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate, worse than the 15.7% average across all 5 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 550i?
Suspension, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.1%).
Does the 550i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,538 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.