2013 BMW X5 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 78.2% of BMW X5s first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. Across 10,037 X5 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for BMW X5s first used in 2013 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
78.2%
of 3,239 first tests; all cars first used in 2013: 65.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
10,037
first tests, 2023–2025; 3,239 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
42.4%
of 3,239 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
106,500
middle half: 86,000–128,500 miles; all cars first used in 2013: 86,500

How the 2013 BMW X5 MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, X5s first used in 2013 against all cars first used in 2013 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the X5 figure was 12.4 points higher.

2013 X5All cars first used in 2013
60%70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2013, test year 2021: 72.1%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2022: 70.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2023: 68.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2024: 66.8%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2025: 65.8%2013 X5, test year 2021: 80.1%2013 X5, test year 2022: 78.7%2013 X5, test year 2023: 78.6%2013 X5, test year 2024: 79.4%2013 X5, test year 2025: 78.2%78.2%65.8%
View this chart as a table
Test year2013 X5All cars first used 2013X5 first tests
202180.1%72.1%3,532
202278.7%70.3%3,513
202378.6%68.3%3,453
202479.4%66.8%3,345
202578.2%65.8%3,239

Common 2013 BMW X5 MOT failures

Share of the 2,133 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment36.9%
Tyres32.7%
Suspension20.7%
Brakes14.3%
Visibility11.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks8.9%
Body, chassis, structure5.7%
Road Wheels3.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Side repeaters: not working19.1%407
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed15.1%322
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords9.5%203
Coil spring: fractured or broken7.1%151
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm6.7%143

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for an X5 in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2013 BMW X5 before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 2013 BMW X5 MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2013 X5s, as a share of all 10,037 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge19.5%1,959
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6.1%611
Brake pads: wearing thin5.9%591
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.3%530
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive5.0%506

Questions about the 2013 BMW X5 MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2013 BMW X5?

In 2025, 78.2% of X5s first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2013 X5 most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 36.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (32.7%) and suspension (20.7%). The single most common item was “Side repeaters: not working” (19.1%).

How often does a 2013 BMW X5 fail its MOT?

In 2025, 21.8% of first tests on X5s first used in 2013 did not pass first time: 19.1% failed, and a further 2.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,133 of 10,037 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2013 BMW X5 MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 19.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (6.1%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (5.9%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (5.3%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (5.0%).

Is a 2013 BMW X5 reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 80.1% in 2021 to 78.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2013

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2013 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2013 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2013 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2013 BMW X5 MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2013 X5” means a BMW X5 whose date of first use falls in 2013 (62, 13 and 63 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2013, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.