Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2014 BMW 5 Series?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2014 BMW 5 Series?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2014 BMW 5 Series?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2014 BMW 5 Series vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2014 BMW 5 Series reliable?

Based on MOT data from 278 vehicles, the 2014 BMW 5 Series has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2014 BMW 5 Series?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 5 Series (2014)

278 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2014 BMW 5 Series

CarHunch analysed 278 real MOT records for the 2014 BMW 5 Series. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2014 BMW 5 Series beats the UK average with an 89.7% first-time pass rate, but nearly a third of these cars (30.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant buyer concern that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Diesel variants, which make up most of the cohort, pass at 89.2%, showing consistent reliability across the fuel type.

These cars are running at a modest 74,663 miles median, which is reasonable for a decade-old executive saloon, and they're averaging 1.12 failures per MOT, suggesting most issues are minor. The high advisory count (6.7 per vehicle) reflects typical wear on an aging premium car—expect to budget for maintenance, and always commission a full pre-purchase inspection to identify any lurking dangerous defects before committing.

We have limited data for the 2014 BMW 5 Series — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

30.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.12

Over 9.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

75k

Middle half: 58k–100k

For context

These stats describe 278 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 278 BMW 5 Series cars.

Before you buy a 2014 BMW 5 Series

Based on MOT data from 278 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (64%)	179	89.2%	1.23
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (24%)	68	89.3%	1.07

Colour Breakdown

Based on 118,673 BMW 5 Series vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.4%

30,117

Black 25%

29,708

Grey 18.5%

21,995

White 11.6%

13,821

Silver 10.8%

12,865

Green 4.1%

4,869

Red 3.4%

4,014

Bronze 0.4%

444

Beige 0.2%

266

Brown 0.2%

259

Purple 0.2%

183

Gold 0.1%

132

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 BMW 5 Series vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

74,663

typical

58,361

low mileage

99,962

high mileage

Half of all 2014 BMW 5 Series vehicles fall between 58,361 and 99,962 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,361 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 58,361–99,962 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2014 BMW 5 Seriess sit.

⚠ Over 134,948 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2014 BMW 5 Series — Still on the Road

Most 2014 BMW 5 Seriess are still being driven.

Strong survival — 198 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 86% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

9.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.12

Avg failures per vehicle

6.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 5 Series: All 5 Series years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing