The 5 Series. Once age and mileage are allowed for, 5 Series cars pass the MOT first time 2.5 points more often than 3 Series cars. The best bets are 3 Series cars registered from 2005 to 2021, and 5 Series cars registered from 2005 to 2021. No years of either stand out as ones to avoid.
| BMW 3 Series | BMW 5 Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 83.4% | 85.1% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | +7.2 points | +9.7 points |
| Years to avoid | None stand out | None stand out |
| Best years | 2005 to 2021 | 2005 to 2021 |
| Fails most often, against the average car | Road wheels: 2.2 times as often | Road wheels: 2.4 times as often |
| Most common failure | Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak | Coil springs: fractured or broken |
| MOTs in 2025 | 433,604 | 192,697 |
How often cars from each registration year passed the MOT first time, against the average car of the same age and mileage. The figure is the difference in percentage points.
Each block is a registration year: the year the car was first used. Tap or hover over one for its figures. Blank means too few MOTs that year.
Points against the average car of the same age and mileage, with each year's most common failure. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as either.
| Registered | 3 Series | 5 Series | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +10.2Brake test (efficiency below requirements) | +13.8Airbag warning light (warning lamp indicates a fault) | 5 Series |
| 2006 | +12.3Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +14.1Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | 5 Series |
| 2007 | +12.3Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +14.5Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | 5 Series |
| 2008 | +12.2Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +17.6Suspension linkage dust covers (ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | 5 Series |
| 2009 | +10.5Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +15.8Suspension linkage dust covers (ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) | 5 Series |
| 2010 | +10.6Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +16.7Coil springs (fractured or broken) | 5 Series |
| 2011 | +10.0Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +16.1Coil springs (fractured or broken) | 5 Series |
| 2012 | +6.8Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | +12.9Coil springs (fractured or broken) | 5 Series |
| 2013 | +9.5Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | +13.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | 5 Series |
| 2014 | +9.6Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | +15.5Coil springs (fractured or broken) | 5 Series |
| 2015 | +10.2Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +14.7Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 5 Series |
| 2016 | +10.5Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +12.6Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 5 Series |
| 2017 | +8.4Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +8.6Shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak) | Either |
| 2018 | +6.5Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +7.7Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Either |
| 2019 | +4.9Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | +5.9Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Either |
| 2020 | +2.7Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | +3.3Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Either |
| 2021 | +1.5Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | +1.9Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Either |
| 2022 | −0.8Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | −0.1Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Either |
How often each passed the MOT first time against the average car of the same age and mileage, in points. Over 120,000 miles: 3 Series cars 9.0 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, 5 Series cars 14.8 points above.
| 3 Series | 5 Series | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | +1.0 | −1.0 | 3 Series |
| 30–60k miles | +5.3 | +5.1 | Either |
| 60–90k miles | +9.3 | +10.6 | Either |
| 90–120k miles | +10.7 | +14.4 | 5 Series |
| 120k+ miles | +9.0 | +14.8 | 5 Series |
| 3 Series | 5 Series | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | +8.4 | +9.4 | Either |
| Diesel | +9.4 | +13.0 | 5 Series |
| Hybrid | +3.4 | +5.7 | 5 Series |
Each fuel is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, whatever its fuel. Rows with fewer than 500 MOTs for either car are left out.
How often each failed on every area of the test, against the average car of the same age and mileage. All registration years.
| Area | 3 Series: failed | Against average | 5 Series: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 6.4% | 0.6× | 5.6% | 0.5× |
| Steering | 0.5% | 0.2× | 1.1% | 0.5× |
| Brakes | 5.1% | 0.7× | 2.7% | 0.4× |
| Tyres | 7.4% | 1.0× | 6.8% | 1.0× |
| Lights & electrics | 8.0% | 0.6× | 5.1% | 0.4× |
| Visibility | 3.0% | 0.6× | 2.4% | 0.5× |
| Body & structure | 1.0% | 0.2× | 0.9% | 0.2× |
| Emissions & leaks | 2.3% | 0.6× | 1.6% | 0.4× |
The failures testers found most often on each, against the average car of the same age and mileage. Both charts use the same scale.
What testers most often noted as advisories on each: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for the average car of the same age and mileage.
The 5 Series
For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 5 Series cars passed the MOT first time 9.7 points above the average car of the same age and mileage and 3 Series cars 7.2 points above: 2.5 points between them.
+7.2points against the average car of the same age and mileage
+9.7points against the average car of the same age and mileage
Going by the MOT, the 5 Series is. For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 85.1% of 5 Series cars passed first time, 9.7 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, against 83.4% of 3 Series cars, 7.2 points above.
None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of the average car of the same age and mileage, or ahead of it.
None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of the average car of the same age and mileage, or ahead of it.
Over 120,000 miles: 3 Series cars 9.0 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, 5 Series cars 14.8 points above. So the 5 Series holds up better.
3 Series: shock absorbers (has a serious fluid leak), on 2.6% of MOTs against 1.1% for the average car of the same age and mileage. 5 Series: coil springs (fractured or broken), on 2.1% of MOTs against 2.8% for the average car of the same age and mileage.
Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data: 433,604 3 Series MOTs and 192,697 5 Series MOTs. Retests are left out.
Against the average car. Each model is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, not with each other directly, so a newer or lower-mileage model doesn't win for that alone.
Which is more reliable. The answer uses cars registered 2014 to 2021, the same years for both, as the rivals table on each model page does. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as level.