BMW X5: lighting & signalling MOT failures
Lighting & signalling was recorded as a failure area in 6.1% of BMW X5 MOT tests — 32,324 tests out of 526,447. It shows up most on 2001 and 2002 cars.
Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair cost: £10–£150 (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Lighting & signalling failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,556 | 16.7% |
| 2002 | 9,073 | 16.4% |
| 2003 | 15,764 | 15.8% |
| 2004 | 21,217 | 13.8% |
| 2005 | 36,630 | 12.9% |
| 2006 | 22,224 | 13.1% |
| 2007 | 22,398 | 11.9% |
| 2008 | 20,741 | 10.4% |
| 2009 | 24,466 | 10.0% |
| 2010 | 22,331 | 7.5% |
| 2011 | 23,750 | 4.4% |
| 2012 | 23,974 | 6.4% |
| 2013 | 19,944 | 6.3% |
| 2014 | 30,000 | 2.0% |
| 2015 | 38,798 | 1.7% |
| 2016 | 35,602 | 1.5% |
| 2017 | 34,143 | 1.5% |
| 2018 | 40,450 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 38,882 | 1.4% |
| 2020 | 16,694 | 1.4% |
| 2021 | 15,298 | 1.8% |
| 2022 | 9,074 | 2.1% |
Methodology & source. 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.