2005 BMW M5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,379 MOT tests, the 2005 BMW M5 recorded an 88.9% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 2005 M5 comes out 13.1pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, malfunction indicator lamp and pins and bushes — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 0.7% in the 30-60k band and 16.2% in the 150k+ band, a 15.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.6% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.1% | 56 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 50 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 42 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 30 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 39 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 34 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 28 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 24 |
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 | 22.9% | 316 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.5% | 228 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 196 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 63 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 55 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 44 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 138 | 0.7% |
| 60-90k | 511 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 489 | 11.3% |
| 120-150k | 177 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 317 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 294 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 282 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 250 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 236 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 M5
On a 2005 M5, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.6% 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.
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 2005 BMW M5s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 1,379 2005 BMW M5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 BMW M5?
Brakes, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.8%).
Does the 2005 M5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.7% in the 30-60k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,379 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.