Used car guide

2001 BMW X5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 BMW X5s, from 408 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 408 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

408MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
5,900typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 BMW X5s than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Engine oil leaks1.8× usual
    BMW X5
    30.4% All 2001 cars
    17.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.4% of all 2001 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    BMW X5
    14.7% All 2001 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.7% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    BMW X5
    17.2% All 2001 cars
    9.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 3.5% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    BMW X5
    14.7% All 2001 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.5% of all 2001 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.

  • Ball joint2.1× usual
    BMW X5
    12.3% All 2001 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2001 BMW X5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    39% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% 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
    33% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a BMW X5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023232Tyres 12%
20227,815Tyres 26%
20216,328Tyres 25%
20204,881Tyres 23%
20198,414Tyres 22%
20186,877Tyres 26%
20175,958Tyres 26%
20166,255Tyres 26%
20156,729Tyres 27%
20145,162Tyres 26%
20133,242Tyres 30%
20123,723Tyres 31%
20113,549Tyres 30%
20103,293Suspension 30%
20093,504Suspension 36%
20082,831Suspension 38%
20072,781Suspension 40%
20062,469Brakes 45%
20054,071Brakes 44%
20042,219Suspension 44%
20031,438Suspension 46%
2002779Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 BMW X5s registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score