1998 BMW 5 Series MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for 5 Series models manufactured in 1998, based on 30,937 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all 5 Series cars tested in 1998. Want to see how cars built in 1998 hold up over time?
View 1998 BMW 5 Series vintage page → (69.9% current pass rate)1998 BMW 5 Series MOT Analysis
The 1998 BMW 5 Series has an MOT pass rate of 51.4% based on 30,937 tests — below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 131,916 miles on the odometer. With a 48.6% failure rate, the 1998 5 Series is rated as "Poor" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1998 BMW 5 Series is Suspension, responsible for 1.2% of failures. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs range from £200–500. Brakes is the second most common issue at 1.1%. Tyres follows at 0.6%.
Top failures specific to 1998 models only. The overall 5 Series page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1.2% | 360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.1% | 346 |
| 3 | Tyres | 0.6% | 183 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.5% | 166 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.5% | 150 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.3% | 94 |
| 7 | Visibility | 0.2% | 52 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.1% | 46 |
| 9 | Non-component Advisories | 0.1% | 43 |
| 10 | Steering | 0.1% | 37 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 19 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 131,916 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 0.09 | 1.2% | 360 |
| Brakes | 0.08 | 1.1% | 346 |
| Tyres | 0.04 | 0.6% | 183 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.04 | 0.5% | 166 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.04 | 0.5% | 150 |
| Body & Structure | 0.02 | 0.3% | 94 |
| Visibility | 0.01 | 0.2% | 52 |
| Seat Belts | 0.01 | 0.1% | 46 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.01 | 0.1% | 43 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.1% | 37 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1998 BMW 5 Series has an MOT pass rate of 51.4% based on 30,937 tests — below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 131,916 miles on the odometer. With a 48.6% failure rate, the 1998 5 Series is rated as "Poor" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1998 BMW 5 Series, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to suspension: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks. With an average mileage of 131,916 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Suspension — 1.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 1.2% of MOT failures on 1998 BMW 5 Series models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Brakes — 1.1% of failures
Brakes issues account for 1.1% of MOT failures on 1998 BMW 5 Series models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 0.6% of failures
Tyres issues account for 0.6% of MOT failures on 1998 BMW 5 Series models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.