Used car guide

2005 BMW 5 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 BMW 5 Seriess, from 300 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 300 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

300MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
7,900typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 BMW 5 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    BMW 5 Series
    23.3% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 2.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine oil leaks1.8× usual
    BMW 5 Series
    26.7% All 2005 cars
    14.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

By area

The share of 2005 BMW 5 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    41% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    28% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a BMW 5 Series?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023313Tyres 15%
20222,222Tyres 24%
20211,817Tyres 21%
20204,064Tyres 23%
201915,159Tyres 24%
201818,470Tyres 25%
201713,069Tyres 24%
2014206Tyres 24%
20135,675Tyres 30%
20125,661Tyres 30%
20111,011Tyres 30%
2010591Suspension 30%
2009619Suspension 39%
2008685Suspension 38%
2007736Suspension 45%
2006623Suspension 46%
2004215Suspension 53%
2003168Suspension 46%
2002149Brakes 40%
2001105Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 BMW 5 Seriess registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score