Used car guide

2003 BMW X5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 BMW X5s, from 1,438 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,438MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
6,500typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 BMW X5s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3× usual
    BMW X5
    19.5% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.9% of all 2003 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    BMW X5
    19.4% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.8% of all 2003 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 joint2.3× usual
    BMW X5
    14.2% All 2003 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2.7% of all 2003 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.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    BMW X5
    10.6% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Door condition9.2× usual
    BMW X5
    4.6% All 2003 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 0.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3.2% here, against 9.7% of all 2003 cars. Shock absorbers: 3.1% here, against 6.7% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 BMW X5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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
    45% 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
    37% 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
    32% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    20% 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
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%
20054,071Suspension 44%
20042,219Suspension 44%
2002779Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 BMW X5s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score