2004 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,217 MOT tests, the 2004 BMW X5 recorded a 73.9% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.3%, so the 2004 X5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and brakes (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, joints and pins and bushes — ball joint alone was recorded 1,653 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 X5 fails 25.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 27.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.2% of the time against 26.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 2,933 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 2,809 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 2,546 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 2,086 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,352 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 1,066 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 1,653 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,498 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,363 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,165 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,157 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,069 |
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 | 34.5% | 7,315 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.3% | 6,437 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.3% | 6,220 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 3,540 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 3,256 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 2,857 |
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 | 79 | 25.3% |
| 30-60k | 248 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,335 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,034 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,767 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 8,631 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,834 | 26.5% |
| Petrol | 6,372 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,758 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 5,063 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 4,237 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 3,410 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 2,749 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 X5
On a 2004 X5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.2% 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.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
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 2004 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 21,217 2004 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 BMW X5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (13.2%).
Does the 2004 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,217 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.