Audi A4 vs Bmw 5 Series
On MOT-testable defects, the Bmw 5 Series (fail rate 15.7%) performed better than the Audi A4 (18.9%) across comparable years. The biggest divergence was body, structure & corrosion, where the A4 recorded failures more often.
18.9%
A4 fail rate
15.7%
5 Series fail rate
3.15pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Audi A4 | Bmw 5 Series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 1,555,960 | 1,245,116 |
| Pass rate | 81.1% | 84.3% |
| Fail rate | 18.9% | 15.7% |
Where they differ
| Category | A4 | 5 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 0.0% |
| Visibility | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 5.3% |
| Suspension | 7.6% | 5.5% |
| Brakes | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | 6.2% |
Methodology & source. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.