2001 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,556 MOT tests on the 2001 BMW X5 are in this dataset, and 73.5% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 379 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 X5 fails 25.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 27.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 25.5% of the time against 27.0% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 760 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 587 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 533 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 476 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 267 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 245 |
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 | 379 |
| 2 | Joints | 345 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 328 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 273 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 247 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 241 |
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 | 37.2% | 1,696 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 1,431 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.2% | 1,375 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.3% | 1,242 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 828 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 658 |
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 | 71 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 46 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 352 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 850 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,298 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,727 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,106 | 27.0% |
| Diesel | 1,427 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,443 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 1,154 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 854 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 620 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 485 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 X5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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.
- Suspension (11.7% 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 2001 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 4,556 2001 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 BMW X5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 2001 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,556 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.