BMW X5: common problems, best years and what to check
Large premium SUV; superb diesels and plug-in hybrid. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the BMW X5 a good used buy?
Best buy
2019+ G05 xDrive30d
Avoid
neglected E70 with air suspension issues
Who it suits: Families wanting a large, luxurious, good-to-drive SUV.
What's good
- Excellent to drive
- Luxurious
- Strong diesels
- Big boot
What's not
- Expensive to run
- Air suspension faults
- Run-flat tyres
- Heavy depreciation
By the numbers
- #98 most common model on UK roads, with about 87k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2019: 8.4k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 30% better than comparable cars of that year.
- 2016 cars survive 12% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: Timing chain (N57) (up to £3,000).
BMW X5 common problems by generation and engine
BMW X5 E70 (2007–2013) · SUV
How to spot it: 07 plate to 13 plate. Boxy, large SUV.
xDrive30d / 40d (N57, diesel, 2010–2013)
Strong
- Timing chain (N57)£1,500–£3,000100k+
BMW X5 F15 (2013–2018) · SUV; 40e
How to spot it: 13 plate to 18 plate. Sharper lines, headlights joined to grille.
xDrive25d / 30d (N47 / N57, diesel, 2013–2018)
- Swirl / EGR faults£400–£1,50080k+
BMW X5 G05 (2018–) · SUV; 45e / 50e
How to spot it: 18 plate onwards. Large kidney grille and hexagonal lights.
xDrive30d / 45e (B57 / B58 + e, diesel / PHEV, 2018–)
Strong
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst BMW X5 years
How many BMW X5s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008, 2009. Years that fall off the road faster: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 — check these harder.
BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
BMW X5s pass their MOT first time 8 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (83% vs 75%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 72% | 57% | 138k miles |
| 2009 | 71% | 58% | 133k miles |
| 2010 | 76% | 59% | 127k miles |
| 2011 | 76% | 61% | 119k miles |
| 2012 | 77% | 63% | 115k miles |
| 2013 | 78% | 66% | 107k miles |
| 2014 | 84% | 69% | 100k miles |
| 2015 | 85% | 72% | 91k miles |
| 2016 | 87% | 75% | 81k miles |
| 2017 | 87% | 78% | 73k miles |
| 2018 | 85% | 81% | 64k miles |
| 2019 | 87% | 84% | 53k miles |
| 2020 | 88% | 86% | 45k miles |
| 2021 | 86% | 87% | 40k miles |
| 2022 | 85% | 89% | 31k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Hybrid
Petrol
Diesel hybrid
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Tyres: has a cut3.63 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed3.62 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn2.35 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.92 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.63 per 100
- Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.55 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.19 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.13 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm26.81 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.1 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.73 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.38 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.12 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn5.21 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.36 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear4.22 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the BMW X5 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| N57 / B57 | chain | check from 100k | £1,500–£3,000 |
BMW X5 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the BMW X5 ULEZ compliant?
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
BMW X5 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X5 | 87k | 40–50 | 650 l | 2019+ G05 xDrive30d |
| Audi Q7 | 48k | 43–50 | 770 l | 4M 3.0 TDI |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 57k | 42–50 | 630 l | 2019+ V167 300d |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | 125k | 41–50 | 489 l | 2018–2022 L494 SDV6 with warranty |
| Volvo XC90 | 79k | 33–48 | 680 l | 2016+ D5 AWD |
| Porsche Cayenne | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used BMW X5
- Air suspension and transfer box
BMW X5 FAQ
›Is the BMW X5 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2019+ G05 xDrive30d. Avoid: neglected E70 with air suspension issues.
›What is the BMW X5 MOT pass rate?
83% of BMW X5s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (70,094 tests), better than the 75% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tyres: has a cut.
›What are the most common BMW X5 problems?
The costliest known faults are Timing chain; Swirl / EGR faults. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the BMW X5 have a timing belt or chain?
N57 / B57: chain.
›What is the best year BMW X5 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2010 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a BMW X5 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 30d 35–42 mpg; 45e 30–80 depending on charging. Insurance groups 40–50. A minor service is about £300–£420 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a BMW X5?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the BMW X5 ULEZ compliant?
Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.