What year BMW 5 Series is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2022 BMW 5 Series has the highest pass rate at 94.0%, out of 1,831 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 5 Series MOT failures?

The most common BMW 5 Series MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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BMW 5 Series — Reliability by Year

118,397 vehicles · MOT data 1985–2023 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 5 Series was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2022

94.0% pass rate · 1,831 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1987

66.0% pass rate · 363 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2023	First MOTs due 2026+	32,315 mi	236
2022	94.0%	33,960 mi	1,831
2021	93.3%	38,146 mi	1,611
2020	91.8%	36,462 mi	4,015
2019	90.7%	42,818 mi	15,195
2018	90.1%	49,102 mi	19,603
2017	90.8%	54,432 mi	15,370
2014	89.7%	66,197 mi	278
2013	83.9%	81,465 mi	7,489
2012	83.5%	87,638 mi	7,724
2011	83.3%	94,890 mi	1,779
2010	82.7%	94,008 mi	1,243
2009	81.4%	100,497 mi	1,337
2008	81.1%	103,894 mi	2,007
2007	80.1%	103,856 mi	2,167
2006	78.1%	106,259 mi	2,186
2005	78.6%	104,333 mi	1,637
2004	79.4%	96,016 mi	1,893
2003	78.4%	95,554 mi	1,539
2002	77.1%	105,198 mi	1,511
2001	74.8%	106,819 mi	1,812
2000	72.8%	116,389 mi	1,886
1999	72.0%	122,074 mi	2,180
1998	70.6%	123,764 mi	2,963
1997	69.8%	127,055 mi	2,715
1996	69.3%	130,341 mi	2,293
1995	69.6%	137,522 mi	2,243
1994	67.9%	143,217 mi	2,206
1993	67.2%	136,563 mi	2,020
1992	67.4%	145,584 mi	1,813
1991	68.2%	145,932 mi	1,441
1990	67.9%	144,421 mi	1,460
1989	68.5%	145,112 mi	1,218
1988	66.8%	144,465 mi	592
1987	66.0%	141,936 mi	363
1986	68.4%	132,022 mi	317
1985	68.5%	128,890 mi	224

* UK vehicles require their first MOT at 3 years old. Recent model years shown in grey have little or no MOT test data yet — pass rate data will build up as those vehicles mature.

Which year BMW 5 Series is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 33,960 miles (newest year) to 145,932 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 5 Series.

See the buying guide →

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