Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 BMW M5?

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 2013 BMW M5?

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 2013 BMW M5?

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.

Is the 2013 BMW M5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 697 vehicles, the 2013 BMW M5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 BMW M5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 BMW M5 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 BMW M5?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW M5 (2013)

697 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.6% first-time pass rate

2013 BMW M5

CarHunch analysed 697 real MOT records for the 2013 BMW M5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 BMW M5 is significantly more reliable than average, with a 90.4% first-time pass rate against the UK average of 80%—a genuinely strong result. However, nearly one in five examples (19.2%) have had a dangerous defect flagged during their MOT history, which is a legitimate concern for a buyer considering this performance car.

At just under 50,000 miles median mileage for a 12-year-old car, these M5s have been relatively lightly used, yet they're still averaging nearly one failure per vehicle and 5.2 advisories, suggesting that while they pass more often than most, they require active maintenance. Before committing, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the areas that generated those advisories—suspension, brakes, and emissions systems are typically where performance BMWs reveal their appetite for bills.

The 2013 BMW M5 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

90.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.99

Over 9.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 38k–60k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 697 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 697 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 26%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 12.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 11%

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 8.9%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 697 BMW M5 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 BMW M5

Based on MOT data from 697 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% 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
Petrol (100%)	695	90.6%	0.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,289 BMW M5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 41.6%

3,449

Black 27.1%

2,246

Grey 11.9%

988

Silver 5.7%

476

White 5.1%

422

Red 3.8%

312

Green 1.6%

129

Orange 1.5%

122

Purple 1%

Bronze 0.4%

Yellow 0.2%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 BMW M5 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.

49,111

typical

37,957

low mileage

59,569

high mileage

Half of all 2013 BMW M5 vehicles fall between 37,957 and 59,569 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,957 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.

✓ 37,957–59,569 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 BMW M5s sit.

⚠ Over 80,418 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 BMW M5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 69% of 2013 BMW M5s are still active.

434 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

9.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.99

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW M5: All M5 years → Which year to buy? →

1987 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 BMW M5 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?