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BMW X5 reliability by build year

Coverage 2007-present3 named generationsluxury SUVSUVDIESEL / PETROL / UNKNOWN / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

BMW X5 built around 2018: about average at the MOT

BMW X5 models built around 2018 fail their MOT a little less often than similar cars the same age.

Check a BMW X5 by number plate

Key figure

12% of MOT tests on BMW X5 models built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 16% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on BMW X5 models built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The BMW X5's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your X5's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

X5 G05

G05 (2018-present)

Excellent
PETROLHYBRID ELECTRICDIESELUNKNOWN

12.3% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 7,944 MOT tests at this ageView details →
X5 F15

F15 (2013-2017)

Excellent
PETROLHYBRID ELECTRICDIESEL

12.0% fail rate, built around 2017 (8 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 18.7%)

From 3,122 MOT tests at this ageView details →
X5 E70

E70 (2007-2012)

Excellent
PETROLDIESEL

19.8% fail rate, built around 2012 (13 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 27.7%)

From 4,699 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

PETROLDIESEL

28.7% fail rate, built around 2004 (21 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.1%)

From 2,391 MOT tests at this ageNo separate page

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the BMW X5.

See every build year for the BMW X5

Side-by-side

BMW X5 generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
G05 (2018-present)
Excellent
Excellent12.3%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 7,944 MOT tests at this age
F15 (2013-2017)
Excellent
Excellent12.0%built around 2017 (8 years old)from 3,122 MOT tests at this age
E70 (2007-2012)
Excellent
Excellent19.8%built around 2012 (13 years old)from 4,699 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating28.7%built around 2004 (21 years old)from 2,391 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the X5, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

BMW X5 fail rate by age

This chart combines every BMW X5 ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
4,53612.8%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
5,18412.6%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
6,55610.9%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
8,02412.0%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
7,94412.3%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
7,20412.0%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
7,72812.8%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
6,79213.4%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
4,96714.7%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
4,27119.3%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
4,69919.8%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
4,19018.8%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
4,25621.8%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
3,99822.9%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
4,08323.0%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
2,96726.8%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
4,68529.4%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
3,88527.6%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
2,39128.7%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
1,41528.7%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
76130.3%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
21128.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 23 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the BMW X5 stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other BMW models

5th of 16

5th lowest fail rate of 16 BMW models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against other SUVs

18th of 89

18th lowest fail rate of 89 SUVs with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against the UK average

12.3%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old BMW X5 models

These issues come from 7-year-old BMW X5 models, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.4%
    Advisory: 2,320Fail: 122 (5% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    6.4%
    Advisory: 612Fail: 44 (7% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    5.8%
    Advisory: 570Fail: 132 (19% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    5.5%
    Advisory: 320Fail: 278 (46% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre has a cut that does not reach the ply or cords

    4.4%
    Advisory: 244Fail: 222 (48% of the times it was found)

Based on 7,944 MOT tests on 7-year-old BMW X5 models, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old BMW X5 models notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres31%
  2. Other + Tyres21%
  3. Suspension + Tyres18%
  4. Tyres + Windscreen & wipers13%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 1,474 MOT tests on BMW X5 cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

87%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · Fewer than typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

70 recalls in all

61 of the 70 BMW X5 recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 12 Critical
  • 49 more

Top concerns

  • Takata driver and/or passenger airbag recall (global VINs)
  • Check driver’s airbag for conversion Takata SDI & PSDI-5
  • The driver and front passenger airbags may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be rele

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs to compare

  1. 1

    Mitsubishi Eclipse

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.4%

    No clear edge over the BMW X5 on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    3,969 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Volkswagen T-Roc

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    3.9%

    Lower fail rate: 9.6%, against 12.3% for the BMW X5, both built around 2018.

    9,233 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Lexus RX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.3%
    Dangerous
    2.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.4%

    Lower fail rate: 7.6%, against 12.3% for the BMW X5, both built around 2018.

    1,815 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Lexus NX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    2.7%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.4%

    Lower fail rate: 9.5%, against 12.3% for the BMW X5, both built around 2018.

    4,706 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the BMW X5 across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. It has the 5th lowest fail rate of 16 BMW models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 7,944 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every BMW X5 ever sold: 107,105 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 7,944 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.