What are the most common BMW 5 Series faults?

On BMW 5 Series MOTs at ages 6-9, the items testers record most often are: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (10.7% of tests); A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.3% of tests); A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (2.2% of tests); Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users (1.7% of tests); A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated (1.6% of tests). Figures are from DVSA 2025 data.

Fault File

All models / All cars / Saloons & estates / BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series

All generations and engines together · 165,074 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 80k

Reliability verdict

BBy age

BBy miles

Graded against its peers

Better than most saloons and estates, by age and by mileage. Watch suspension and corrosion. A solid used buy, provided its MOT history has no repeating suspension advisories.

First-time failure at age 7

14.4%

Across 16,192 tests. The average for saloons and estates is 17.4%.

First-time failure at 50-60k miles

14.2%

Across 12,564 tests. The average for saloons and estates is 16.8%.

Rank in its class

8 of 34

1 = lowest failure rate among the 34 saloons and estates we can rank.

Typical mileage at age 7

80k miles

How far the average car has gone by seven years old. Low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

What owners report

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press, with how well each report stands up. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Timing chain and tensioner failure (diesel, early petrol turbo)

Confirmed pattern

Early N47 diesel engines (pre-2011 build) can suffer timing chain tensioner failure, sometimes as early as 74-83k miles, and BMW recalled affected diesels to replace the tensioner and chain if stretched. The N20 turbo petrol that followed has its own version of the problem, with plastic timing chain guides that go brittle and snap. A failed chain on either engine usually means a rattle on cold start followed by a bent-valve engine rebuild, £3,000-£6,500.

N47: 74-90k miles, recall on pre-2011 cars · sources: Honest John, BMW recall notices

Diesel swirl flap and intake manifold failure

Emerging

On older diesel engines the intake manifold swirl flap actuators can snap and get pulled into the cylinder, wrecking the engine internally. It is mostly an E60-era problem (2003-2010 diesels) but the same design carried into early F10 units. No recall exists; the accepted fix is an aftermarket blanking plate that removes the flaps rather than repairing them, which tells you how widely owners distrust the factory part.

Diesel only, mainly pre-2010 · repair or blanking £150-£12,000 if ingested · sources: Honest John, diesel specialist forums

Front suspension bush and coil spring wear

Partly in the MOT data

Owners across generations report clonks and creaks from front wishbone bushes, and there are enough reports of outright coil spring breakage on the motorway to take it seriously, one on a 2011 525d with the bush also failing under warranty at just 28,000 miles. This lines up with the measured MOT data, where suspension is the standout fault for this model in the saloon/estate segment: the folklore and the numbers agree on where the weak point is, even if the exact part (bush versus spring versus mount) varies by report.

From 28k miles, worsens 60k+ · sources: Honest John owner reports, BMW forums

ZF automatic gearbox failure

EmergingAutomatics only

The 'sealed for life' ZF automatic gearboxes fitted across E60 and F10 cars are not really sealed for life in practice. Owners report clunking and failed shifts from around 120-150k miles, with full replacement quoted at over £3,500, and a fluid flush every 60k is the commonly recommended preventive step. A separate leaking transmission sump pan has also been reported on some F10 diesels, starving the clutch packs of oil. Manual cars are not affected.

120-150k miles, auto only · rebuild £3,000-£3,500+ · sources: Honest John

Battery cable and rear light wiring fault

Confirmed pattern

A poor earth connection on the battery cable can trigger false dashboard warnings and, in some cases, the engine cutting out while driving. BMW covered this under a recall, and a related rear light cluster wiring fault with an inadequate earth connection was also addressed. Worth checking the MOT history for repeated electrical advisories, since it suggests the fix was never properly done.

Subject to recall R/2012/039 · sources: Honest John

What to check on this car

Ranked from this model’s own MOT record, then from what owners report.

Saveable checklist

From this model’s MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

DampersRuns high on this model Look for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 10.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this model On full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.1%

Bushes and ball joints Drive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Wheels Look at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Leaks Look at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 0.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Brake pipes underneath Follow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 0.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller’s upkeep rather than the model, and they are where the haggling money is.

Tyres, all four Check the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 22.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discs Look through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 7.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipers Scan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

From this model’s MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this model Drive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 11.9% of tests of this generation · class average 7.5%

LeaksRuns high on this model Look at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 10.9% of tests of this generation · class average 3.5%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this model Follow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 4.5% of tests of this generation · class average 0.1%

Coil springs Look through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 4.7% of tests of this generation · class average 3.6%

Steering playRuns high on this model With the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 2.6% of tests of this generation · class average 1.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller’s upkeep rather than the model, and they are where the haggling money is.

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this model Scan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 4.6% of tests of this generation · class average 2.4%

From this model’s MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Coil springs Look through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 3.4% of tests of this generation · class average 2.4%

Lights and horn walkround With a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.8% of tests of this generation · class average 2.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller’s upkeep rather than the model, and they are where the haggling money is.

From this model’s MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

WheelsRuns high on this model Look at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 1.2% of tests of this generation · class average 0.1%

Warning lights on ignition Turn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 0.9% of tests of this generation · class average 0.5%

Lights and horn walkround With a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 0.5% of tests of this generation · class average 0.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller’s upkeep rather than the model, and they are where the haggling money is.

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the reports above rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the engine stone cold and listen before you touch the throttle. A rattle that fades after a couple of seconds points to a worn timing chain or tensioner, especially on diesels.

Check the service history for oil change intervals. Anything stretched beyond 10k miles between changes raises the risk of premature chain wear.

Drive slowly over a rough patch or speed bump and listen to the front end. Clonks or creaks mean worn wishbone bushes; this is the fault most likely to show up as a suspension advisory later.

From a standstill in D, feel the first gear engagement, then try a few full-throttle upshifts. A delayed, harsh, or slipping shift on an automatic points at a tired ZF gearbox, not a five-minute fix.

Check the dash for a battery or electrical warning light even if the battery is new. A recurring false warning suggests the earth cable recall was never carried out.

Check the MOT history for repeated identical advisories. The same fault flagged year after year means it's being ignored, not fixed.

On a diesel, check for coolant loss or an amber engine/drivetrain light and smell for anything acrid on start-up. Could be an EGR cooler on its way out, an expensive job if ignored.

Open the saveable checklist, tick it off at the car

The MOT data

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

How this model wears

BMW 5 SeriesClass average, all tracked models

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 65,307 tests in this band.

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

Advisory

10.7%class 2.3%

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

Fail

2.3%class 0.4%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

Advisory

2.2%class 5.9%

Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Advisory

1.7%class 2.4%

A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated

Advisory

1.6%class 0.1%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

Minor

1.1%class 0.6%

A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting

Advisory

1.0%class 0.6%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

Advisory

0.8%class 1.9%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

Fail

0.8%class 0.6%

Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel

Fail

0.8%class 0.1%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

Advisory

26.3%class 22.9%

A tyre seriously damaged

Advisory

7.1%class 13.4%

A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

Advisory

7.0%class 8.7%

Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured

Advisory

5.6%class 10.1%

A tyre seriously damaged

Fail

2.9%class 2.0%

Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn

Advisory

2.8%class 3.4%

Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

Minor

2.5%class 2.0%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

Fail

2.5%class 2.3%

Others in its class

Same segment (Saloons & estates), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.

Audi A88.6%Porsche Panamera9.4%Lexus IS9.6%BMW 7 Series10.0%Mercedes S-Class10.8%Jaguar XJ12.9%See all Saloons & estatesreliability ranked

BMW 5 Series

Generation

What owners report

Timing chain and tensioner failure (diesel, early petrol turbo)

Diesel swirl flap and intake manifold failure

Front suspension bush and coil spring wear

ZF automatic gearbox failure

Battery cable and rear light wiring fault

EGR cooler and DPF-related engine warnings (diesel)

What to check on this car

From this model’s MOT record

Worth doing on any used car

From this model’s MOT record

Worth doing on any used car

From this model’s MOT record

Worth doing on any used car

From this model’s MOT record

Worth doing on any used car

Because of what owners report

The MOT data

How this model wears

What testers flag

Faults with the car itself

Wear, upkeep and luck

By fuel & engine

Others in its class