2014 BMW M5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 BMW M5 passed 91.1% of its 2,468 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 15.4% of the time, so this is 6.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and suspension (3.0%) 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 registration plates — coil spring alone was recorded 81 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 M5 fails 5.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 78 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.0% | 75 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 38 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 22 |
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 | 81 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 39 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 29 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 14.1% | 348 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 240 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 93 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 55 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 49 |
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 | 238 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,129 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 923 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 7.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 556 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 500 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 484 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 473 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 455 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 M5
On a 2014 M5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.2% 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.
- Suspension (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (1.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2014 BMW M5s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 2,468 2014 BMW M5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW M5?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by suspension (3.0%).
Does the 2014 M5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 7.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,468 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.