1996 BMW 5 Series — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

69.0%

Latest Pass Rate

16,384

Total Tests (All Years)

132,966 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 BMW 5 Series as it ages.

13 yrs49.5%

→ ↑0.1%

14 yrs49.6%

→ ↑0.1%

15 yrs49.7%

→ ↓3.9%

16 yrs45.8%

→ ↑0.9%

17 yrs46.7%

→ ↑2.8%

18 yrs49.5%

→ ↑2.1%

19 yrs51.6%

→ ↑1.6%

20 yrs53.2%

→ ↓0.7%

21 yrs52.5%

→ ↑5.0%

22 yrs57.5%

→ ↑3.1%

23 yrs60.6%

→ ↑4.9%

24 yrs65.5%

→ ↓2.5%

25 yrs63.0%

→ ↑5.7%

26 yrs68.7%

→ ↑1.5%

27 yrs70.2%

→ ↓1.2%

28 yrs69.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	49.5%	3,469
14 yrs	49.6%	2,892
15 yrs	49.7%	2,342
16 yrs	45.8%	1,690
17 yrs	46.7%	1,266
18 yrs	49.5%	972
19 yrs	51.6%	768
20 yrs	53.2%	637
21 yrs	52.5%	501
22 yrs	57.5%	308
23 yrs	60.6%	264
24 yrs	65.5%	223
25 yrs	63.0%	262
26 yrs	68.7%	195
27 yrs	70.2%	198
28 yrs	69.0%	397

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 BMW 5 Series pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (28 yrs)	69%	397
2023 (27 yrs)	70.2%	198
2022 (26 yrs)	68.7%	195
2021 (25 yrs)	63%	262
2020 (24 yrs)	65.5%	223
2019 (23 yrs)	60.6%	264
2018 (22 yrs)	57.5%	308
2017 (21 yrs)	52.5%	501
2016 (20 yrs)	53.2%	637
2015 (19 yrs)	51.6%	768
2014 (18 yrs)	49.5%	972
2013 (17 yrs)	46.7%	1,266
2012 (16 yrs)	45.8%	1,690
2011 (15 yrs)	49.7%	2,342
2010 (14 yrs)	49.6%	2,892
2009 (13 yrs)	49.5%	3,469

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

49.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 3,469Avg Mileage 135,038Top Failure Brakes — 30.4%

2010High Fail Rate

49.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,892Avg Mileage 138,237Top Failure Brakes — 30.9%

2011High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,342Avg Mileage 139,769Top Failure Brakes — 31.0%

2012High Fail Rate

45.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,690Avg Mileage 141,217Top Failure Brakes — 33.8%

2013High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,266Avg Mileage 142,086Top Failure Brakes — 80.6%

2014High Fail Rate

49.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 972Avg Mileage 141,907Top Failure Brakes — 81.8%

2015High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 768Avg Mileage 142,984Top Failure Brakes — 71.9%

2016High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 637Avg Mileage 144,909Top Failure Suspension — 67.3%

2017High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 501Avg Mileage 143,438Top Failure Brakes — 71.7%

2018High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 308Avg Mileage 139,468Top Failure Brakes — 66.2%

2019High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 264Avg Mileage 137,992Top Failure Suspension — 56.1%

2020

65.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 223Avg Mileage 142,794Top Failure Brakes — 52.0%

2021High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 262Avg Mileage 142,200Top Failure Suspension — 68.7%

2022

68.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 195Avg Mileage 135,595Top Failure Brakes — 48.7%

2023

70.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 198Avg Mileage 135,273Top Failure Brakes — 53.5%

2024

69.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 397Avg Mileage 132,966Top Failure Suspension — 36.5%

MOT results for 1996 BMW 5 Series by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	49.5%	3,469	135,038	Brakes — 30.4%
2010	14	49.6%	2,892	138,237	Brakes — 30.9%
2011	15	49.7%	2,342	139,769	Brakes — 31.0%
2012	16	45.8%	1,690	141,217	Brakes — 33.8%
2013	17	46.7%	1,266	142,086	Brakes — 80.6%
2014	18	49.5%	972	141,907	Brakes — 81.8%
2015	19	51.6%	768	142,984	Brakes — 71.9%
2016	20	53.2%	637	144,909	Suspension — 67.3%
2017	21	52.5%	501	143,438	Brakes — 71.7%
2018	22	57.5%	308	139,468	Brakes — 66.2%
2019	23	60.6%	264	137,992	Suspension — 56.1%
2020	24	65.5%	223	142,794	Brakes — 52.0%
2021	25	63.0%	262	142,200	Suspension — 68.7%
2022	26	68.7%	195	135,595	Brakes — 48.7%
2023	27	70.2%	198	135,273	Brakes — 53.5%
2024	28	69.0%	397	132,966	Suspension — 36.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 BMW 5 Series, with age trends.

Brakes

54.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

50.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.3%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

21.9%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.6% (13 yrs)	36.5% (28 yrs)	+12.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	30.4% (13 yrs)	35.8% (28 yrs)	+5.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	18.7% (13 yrs)	14.1% (28 yrs)	-4.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 5 Series page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 5 Series cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 16,384 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.