BMW M5 2012: MOT failure rate for its age
12.8% of 1,752 MOT tests of the BMW M5 first registered in 2012 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 101.6 (95% CI 88.3–114.9; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2012 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 12.8 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 1752 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 88.3–114.9) | 101.6 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 1752 |
| Rank among this model's 6 build years | 5 | of 6 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 1752 |
| Tested in 2024 | 284 | tests | median 73,200 miles | 2024 | 284 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2012 BMW M5 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 394 (rough estimate) | 12.4 | 9.5–16.1 | 13.9 | 89.7 |
| 8 | 365 (rough estimate) | 9.6 | 7–13 | 10.7 | 89.6 |
| 9 | 355 (rough estimate) | 14.6 | 11.3–18.7 | 11.6 | 126.7 |
| 10 | 323 (rough estimate) | 14.9 | 11.4–19.2 | 13.8 | 107.3 |
| 11 | 315 (rough estimate) | 12.7 | 9.5–16.8 | 13 | 97.6 |
| 12 | 284 (rough estimate) | 9.5 | 6.6–13.5 | not available | not available |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,036 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2012 BMW M5?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2012 is tyres: 5.9 items per 100 first tests, against 5.2 across all build years of the BMW M5. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2012 were tested at ages 7 to 12.
| Failure group | Built 2012, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 5.9 | 5.2 | 120 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6 | 3.6 | 115 |
| Suspension | 4 | 7.2 | 81 |
| Visibility | 3.3 | 5.2 | 68 |
| Brakes | 2.3 | 5 | 46 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,036 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2012 compare with the years around it?
Among the 6 published build years of the BMW M5, 2012 ranks 5 (1 = fails least for its age). 2011: index 98.3. 2013: index 106.4.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 98.3 | 69.3–127.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 356 |
| 2012 | 101.6 | 88.3–114.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,752 |
| 2013 | 106.4 | 96.3–116.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,263 |
| 2014 | 93.7 | 83.5–103.9 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,925 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 88.1–112.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,415 |
| 2016 | 92.5 | 80.5–104.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,471 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,182 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). BMW M5 2012 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/bmw-m5/2012/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
BMW M5 2011 · BMW M5 2013 · BMW M5 2014 · BMW M5 2015 · BMW M5 2016 · BMW M5 in the Netherlands · BMW M5 by postcode area · BMW M5 body, chassis and structure failures · BMW M5 brakes failures · BMW M5 vehicle identification failures · BMW M5 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW M5 noise, emissions and leaks failures · BMW M5 road wheels failures · BMW M5 seat belts and airbags failures · BMW M5 steering failures · BMW M5 suspension failures · BMW M5 tyres failures · BMW M5 visibility failures