1999 BMW M5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 555 MOT tests, the 1999 BMW M5 recorded an 82.7% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 1999 M5 comes out 5.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 M5 fails 15.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 14.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.1% in 2021 to 13.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 51 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 39 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 12 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Washers | 20 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 16 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.0% | 111 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.5% | 108 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.1% | 78 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 74 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 62 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.8% | 43 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 60 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 153 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 190 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 117 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 120 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 112 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 105 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 101 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 M5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Brakes (6.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1999 BMW M5s pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 555 1999 BMW M5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 BMW M5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 1999 M5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 60-90k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 555 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.