Used car guide

2008 BMW 5 Series: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 BMW 5 Seriess, from 685 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

685MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
9,100typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 BMW 5 Seriess than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.2× usual
    BMW 5 Series
    8.6% All 2008 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.7% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 4.5% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 BMW 5 Series MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    38% 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.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    30% 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
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% 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
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,222Tyres 24%
20211,817Tyres 21%
20204,064Tyres 23%
201915,159Tyres 24%
201818,470Tyres 25%
201713,069Tyres 24%
20135,675Tyres 30%
20125,661Tyres 30%
20111,011Tyres 30%
2010591Suspension 30%
2009619Suspension 39%
2007736Suspension 45%
2006623Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 BMW 5 Seriess registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score