2002 BMW X5 MOT pass rate: 68.9% (3,154 tests)
Is the 2002 X5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2002-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69.3% +4.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 69.6% +4.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 67.2% +0.5 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 2002 X5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,035 | 24.8% |
| 2 | Brakes | 948 | 22.7% |
| 3 | Suspension | 724 | 17.3% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 473 | 11.3% |
| 5 | Tyres | 326 | 7.8% |
| 6 | Visibility | 222 | 5.3% |
All X5 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,569 | 68.3% | +1.8 pts | 138,280 |
| 2002 (this page) | 3,154 | 68.9% | +3.3 pts | 139,883 |
| 2003 | 5,630 | 68.1% | +3.1 pts | 137,651 |
| 2004 | 8,204 | 68.1% | +3.8 pts | 144,388 |
| 2005 | 14,553 | 67.4% | +2.9 pts | 145,053 |
| 2006 | 9,018 | 66.6% | +2.2 pts | 145,537 |
| 2007 | 9,672 | 74.6% | +9.5 pts | 138,937 |
| 2008 | 9,336 | 76.5% | +11.4 pts | 133,020 |
| 2009 | 11,323 | 76.9% | +10.5 pts | 126,695 |
| 2010 | 10,541 | 79.4% | +12.0 pts | 120,104 |
| 2011 | 11,362 | 79.5% | +10.3 pts | 113,239 |
| 2012 | 11,603 | 79.6% | +8.4 pts | 107,533 |
| 2013 | 9,942 | 81.5% | +8.2 pts | 99,523 |
| 2014 | 15,656 | 87.7% | +11.9 pts | 91,722 |
| 2015 | 20,254 | 87.8% | +9.1 pts | 82,118 |
| 2016 | 18,838 | 89.0% | +7.6 pts | 72,515 |
| 2017 | 17,950 | 88.6% | +4.6 pts | 63,812 |
| 2018 | 20,621 | 87.9% | +1.6 pts | 54,610 |
| 2019 | 24,383 | 88.7% | +0.3 pts | 43,529 |
| 2020 | 8,006 | 89.5% | -0.4 pts | 35,184 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW X5 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2002 BMW X5 reliable?
2002-registered examples passed 68.9% of their MOT tests (3,154 tests, 2023–2025), +3.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 24 years old with a median 139,883 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2002 X5?
The median tested example shows 139,883 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.