How reliable is the BMW X5 M compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the BMW X5 M, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 91.1% across 666 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW X5 M?

The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 34.0% of failed BMW X5 M tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a BMW X5 M?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 14.2% of all BMW X5 M tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a BMW X5 M usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 32,889 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

BMW X5 M MOT pass rate & common failures

From 666 recorded MOT tests of the BMW X5 M, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 666 MOT tests, 91.1% of BMW X5 M tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the BMW X5 M fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre seriously damaged, which appears in 34.0% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 32,889 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

91.1%unadjusted, not comparable666 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the X5 M. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 666 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed BMW X5 M tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A tyre seriously damaged34.0%
18 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.A tyre cords visible or damaged22.6%
12 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.2%
7 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements11.3%
6 occurrencesRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained
5.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.5%
4 occurrencesDirection indicator not working explained
6.ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction5.7%
3 occurrences
7.Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended3.8%
2 occurrencesSeat belt damaged or not working properly explained
8.A tyre seriously damaged3.8%
2 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
9.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements3.8%
2 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
10.A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber3.8%
2 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW X5 M tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements14.2%
94 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A tyre seriously damaged4.1%
27 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.Nail in tyre3.6%
24 tests
4.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.0%
20 tests
5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements2.6%
17 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
6.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured2.3%
15 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
7.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm2.1%
14 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
8.A tyre seriously damaged1.7%
11 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

What gets tested

The X5 M fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 32,889
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (2)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

X5 M COMPETITION AUTO
X5 M COMPETITION FIRST ED A

Check a specific BMW X5 M

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other BMW models

BMW 3 Series — 80.0% adjusted
BMW 1 Series — 77.6% adjusted
BMW 5 Series — 82.0% adjusted
BMW 2 Series — 82.9% adjusted
BMW X1 — 79.5% adjusted
BMW 4 Series — 83.2% adjusted
All BMW models

Common questions

How reliable is the BMW X5 M compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the BMW X5 M, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 91.1% across 666 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW X5 M?: The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 34.0% of failed BMW X5 M tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a BMW X5 M?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 14.2% of all BMW X5 M tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a BMW X5 M usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 32,889 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.