Used car guide

2006 BMW X5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 BMW X5s, from 2,469 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,469MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
7,800typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 BMW X5s than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Ball joint2.4× usual
    BMW X5
    15.4% All 2006 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 3% of all 2006 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.6× usual
    BMW X5
    22.8% All 2006 cars
    14.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Door condition11.3× usual
    BMW X5
    4.5% All 2006 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 0.4% of all 2006 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

Coil springs: 2% here, against 11.2% of all 2006 cars. Exhaust system: 3.7% here, against 9.4% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 BMW X5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    12% 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%
20054,071Suspension 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 2006 BMW X5s registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score