Bmw 5 series
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 30 years from 155,556 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
84%
Total Tests
155,556
Best Year
2023 (98%)
Years Covered
30
How reliable is the Bmw 5 series?
Bmw 5 series by Year
| Year | Pass Rate | Tests | Avg Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 98% | 185 | 24,552 mi |
| 2022 | 96% | 586 | 33,834 mi |
| 2021 | 93% | 4,081 | 35,046 mi |
| 2020 | 92% | 9,409 | 40,517 mi |
| 2019 | 92% | 33,766 | 52,218 mi |
| 2018 | 91% | 40,272 | 63,822 mi |
| 2017 | 90% | 28,884 | 73,845 mi |
| 2016 | 91% | 104 | 58,170 mi |
| 2015 | 93% | 135 | 77,391 mi |
| 2014 | 88% | 495 | 96,084 mi |
| 2013 | 83% | 12,106 | 116,962 mi |
| 2012 | 83% | 12,364 | 124,375 mi |
| 2011 | 83% | 2,348 | 129,743 mi |
| 2010 | 83% | 1,299 | 135,211 mi |
| 2009 | 83% | 1,296 | 149,453 mi |
| 2008 | 83% | 1,682 | 154,421 mi |
| 2007 | 81% | 1,827 | 159,927 mi |
| 2006 | 80% | 1,465 | 158,383 mi |
| 2005 | 76% | 866 | 156,443 mi |
| 2004 | 78% | 555 | 149,786 mi |
| 2003 | 77% | 437 | 139,654 mi |
| 2002 | 78% | 330 | 147,542 mi |
| 2001 | 81% | 217 | 138,008 mi |
| 2000 | 75% | 179 | 151,070 mi |
| 1999 | 71% | 224 | 143,099 mi |
| 1998 | 80% | 184 | 126,519 mi |
| 1997 | 79% | 94 | 129,696 mi |
| 1996 | 78% | 55 | 148,837 mi |
| 1995 | 77% | 60 | 147,066 mi |
| 1994 | 84% | 51 | 134,866 mi |
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About the Bmw 5 series
The Bmw 5 series has been tested 155,556 times in 2024 MOT data across 30 model years (1994 to 2023), with an average pass rate of 84%. That's slightly above the national average of 82%. Available as petrol and hybrid and diesel.
Best and Worst Years
The 2023 model is the most reliable with a 98% pass rate from 185 tests. The 1999 model has the lowest at 71%. With a 27 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.
Reliability Trend
Newer BMW 5 SERIESs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 11 percentage points.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (1994) averages 134,866 miles, while the newest (2023) averages 24,552 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.
Compared to the Bmw brand average of 88%, the 5 series is 4 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Bmw models.
Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.