Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 106,540 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW X5 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the X5 5 stars in 2018, with 89% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 76.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,561 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £297/month or 48p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very high at 20.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2018
MOT Pass Rate
76.8%
65,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£297
est. annual total
New From
£77,010
Euro NCAP tested the X5 in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
89%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
75%
Safety Assist
75%
There are 70 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW X5. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2021-05-07 to 2021-06-19
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2006-08-31 to 2013-06-24
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2000-04-13 to 2003-09-30
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2013-04-03 to 2017-09-06
R/2025/406
For affected vehicles local overheating may occur at the electrical contacts of the vehicle's engine starter motor. This may cause an increase in current flow resulting in local overheating or risk of thermal event.
Build dates: 2018-10-02 to 2020-06-12
+ 65 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 65,000 MOT tests, the X5 has a first-time pass rate of 76.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The X5 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW X5 are estimated at around £3,561 per year, or £297 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£3,111
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Battery
24 kWh
Range (WLTP)
54 mi
Motor
83 kW
111 bhp
Drive
AWD
Starting from £77,010 new, a BMW X5 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £57,750 | −£19,260 |
| 2 years | 64% | £49,100 | −£27,910 |
| 3 years | 56% | £43,200 | −£33,810 |
| 4 years | 50% | £38,900 | −£38,110 |
| 5 years | 46% | £35,750 | −£41,260 |
| 6 years | 43% | £33,250 | −£43,760 |
| 7 years | 41% | £31,250 | −£45,760 |
| 8 years | 39% | £29,700 | −£47,310 |
| 9 years | 37% | £28,200 | −£48,810 |
| 10 years | 35% | £26,800 | −£50,210 |
The X5 has a theft rate of 20.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
There are currently 106,540 licensed and 14,908 SORN X5s in the UK (121,448 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The X5 has a 76.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 65,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the X5 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 89% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 75% for vulnerable road users, and 75% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old X5 are estimated at around £3,561 per year (£297/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 70 known safety recalls affecting the X5. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The X5 has a theft rate of 20.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new X5 starts from around £77,010. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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