2006 BMW M5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,481 MOT tests, the 2006 BMW M5 recorded an 88.4% pass rate. That is 12.2 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.0%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and rigid brake pipes — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 30 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.6% versus 4.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.8% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.0% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 48 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 47 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 37 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 30 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 30 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 5 | Washers | 22 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
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 | 21.1% | 313 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.1% | 223 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 155 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 45 |
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 | 46 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 273 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 560 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 415 | 11.6% |
| 120-150k | 160 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 338 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 315 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 295 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 267 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 266 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 M5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 4.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.2% 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 2006 BMW M5s pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 1,481 2006 BMW M5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 BMW M5?
Suspension, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2006 M5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,481 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.