2013 BMW M5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 BMW M5 passed 89.4% of its 2,781 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.3 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (3.9%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, catalyst emissions and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 121 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 M5 fails 3.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 0.0% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3.9% | 109 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 95 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 60 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 47 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 44 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 121 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 85 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 38 |
| 5 | Washers | 28 |
| 6 | Wipers | 22 |
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 | 16.4% | 457 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 325 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.1% | 87 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 66 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 31 |
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 | 118 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,109 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,271 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 245 | 10.6% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 0.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 614 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 571 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 587 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 523 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 486 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 M5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (3.9% 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2013 BMW M5s pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 2,781 2013 BMW M5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW M5?
Suspension, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2013 M5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.4% in the 0-30k band to 0.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,781 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.