2006 BMW 5 Series MOT pass rate: 71.5% (2,266 tests)
Is the 2006 5 Series getting worse?
Pass rate of 2006-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.4% +4.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 72.5% +8.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 74.9% +9.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2006 5 Series
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 495 | 25.2% |
| 2 | Brakes | 479 | 24.4% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 287 | 14.6% |
| 4 | Tyres | 283 | 14.4% |
| 5 | Steering | 152 | 7.7% |
| 6 | Visibility | 65 | 3.3% |
All 5 Series years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (this page) | 2,266 | 71.5% | +7.1 pts | 158,396 |
| 2007 | 2,644 | 75.5% | +10.3 pts | 154,847 |
| 2008 | 2,411 | 77.1% | +12.0 pts | 151,353 |
| 2009 | 2,106 | 76.8% | +10.4 pts | 145,498 |
| 2010 | 1,967 | 78.7% | +11.3 pts | 136,057 |
| 2011 | 3,205 | 77.7% | +8.5 pts | 131,341 |
| 2012 | 17,658 | 78.2% | +7.0 pts | 120,731 |
| 2013 | 17,544 | 77.9% | +4.6 pts | 113,936 |
| 2017 | 39,528 | 87.0% | +3.0 pts | 68,020 |
| 2018 | 55,868 | 88.8% | +2.4 pts | 58,656 |
| 2019 | 46,100 | 89.3% | +0.9 pts | 47,470 |
| 2020 | 12,564 | 89.8% | -0.2 pts | 35,320 |
| 2021 | 3,555 | 91.5% | +1.1 pts | 37,768 |
| 2022 | 2,216 | 90.7% | -0.6 pts | 35,803 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 5 Series years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2006 BMW 5 Series reliable?
2006-registered examples passed 71.5% of their MOT tests (2,266 tests, 2023–2025), +7.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 20 years old with a median 158,396 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2006 5 Series?
The median tested example shows 158,396 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.