Does the BMW 5 Series fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?
The BMW 5 Series records 7.08 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.96 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.88, 95% interval −0.93 to −0.83). It ranks 411 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a BMW 5 Series by registration
What exactly fails on visibility?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 5 Series is “Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view”, recorded 39,593 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 39,593 | 3.11 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 16,203 | 1.27 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 14,704 | 1.15 |
| Wiper blade defective | 9,882 | 0.78 |
| Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 3,936 | 0.31 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,273,419 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a BMW 5 Series gets a visibility advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.9% of BMW 5 Series MOTs with a visibility advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 6,503 miles later (759 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 759 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
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