Car statistics by year

2003 BMW X5

BMW X5 cars first registered in 2003: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 2003, so like is set against like.

A year of the BMW X5. “2003” is the year of first registration.

Last updated
Records analysed
1,421 MOT tests of 2003 BMW X5 cars
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 62.8% All 2003 cars 58.9%
  • Typical mileage at the MOT 143,100 miles; all 2003 cars 100,300
  • Left at the end of 2025 2,622 37.4% of the 7,002 at the end of 2014
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 11.3% All 2003 cars 9.1%
  • Tests with an advisory 72.1% All 2003 cars 69.0%
  • MOT tests in 2025 1,421 normal tests in Great Britain

How do 2003 BMW X5s do at their MOT?

In 2025, at about 22 years old, 62.8% of 2003 BMW X5 MOT tests were passed first time, against 58.9% for all cars first registered in 2003. 2003 BMW X5s did better than average for their age, by 3.9 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 61.7% of the time (all 2003 cars 57.4%).

MOT pass rate by year of first registration: BMW X5 vs all cars

Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each BMW X5 bar with the all-cars bar beside it.

MOT first-time pass rate in 2025 by year of first registration, BMW X5 compared with all cars
First registered BMW X5All cars
’02 60.4%59.7%
’03 62.8%58.9%
’04 63.3%57.9%
’05 62.8%57.7%
’06 62.0%56.9%
’07 69.2%57.3%
’08 72.0%57.0%
’09 71.5%58.2%
’10 75.8%59.3%
’11 76.6%61.5%
’12 76.5%63.6%
’13 78.2%66.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures on the 2003 BMW X5

Parking brake efficiency below requirements was the most common single reason a 2003 BMW X5 failed, on 18.0% of about 500 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (50.9% of failed tests; all 2003 cars 49.3%). 11.3% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.1% for all cars first registered in 2003. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.

Most common reasons for failure

Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed 2003 BMW X5 tests, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes 18.0%
Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure 16.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 15.5%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 14.9%
Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension 13.0%
Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle Body, chassis, structure 12.3%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.4%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 9.1%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.7%
SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 7.8%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Failure categories: BMW X5 vs all 2003 cars

The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.

Share of failed 2003 BMW X5 MOT tests with a defect in each category, with all 2003 cars for comparison
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 50.9%
Brakes 40.6%
Suspension 36.5%
Body, chassis, structure 31.6%
Tyres 20.2%
Visibility 18.0%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 11.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks 9.3%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT advisories on the 2003 BMW X5

An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 72.1% of 2003 BMW X5 tests had at least one (all 2003 cars 69.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.

Most common advisories

Most common MOT advisories on 2003 BMW X5 tests, 2025
Advisory Share of tests
Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks 24.8%
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres 23.2%
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes 21.3%
Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension 16.0%
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension 9.9%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes 9.1%
Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension 8.1%
Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes 6.6%
Headlamp: product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 5.7%
Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres 5.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

What mileage is normal for a 2003 BMW X5?

Half of the 2003 BMW X5s tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 143,100 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 117,500 and a quarter more than 169,700. For all cars first registered in 2003, the middle figure was 100,300 miles, so 2003 BMW X5s have been driven 42.7% further than average.

Mileage at the 2025 MOT

Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.

Odometer readings at the 2025 MOT, 2003 BMW X5 and all 2003 cars, by percentile
10% 25% Median 75% 90% Cars
2003 BMW X5 91,400 117,500 143,100 169,700 191,200 1,125
All 2003 cars 50,300 72,000 100,300 133,000 167,000 234,392
miles

Half of the 2003 BMW X5s tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 143,100 miles.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

How many 2003 BMW X5s are left?

At the end of 2014, 7,002 2003 BMW X5s were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 2,622 were: 1,068 licensed and 1,554 declared off the road (SORN). That is 37.4% still on the record, against 23.0% for all cars first registered in 2003.

Share still on the record since 2014

Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.

2003 BMW X5s on the DVLA record at each year end as a share of the number at the end of 2014, compared with all 2003 cars
Year end 2003 BMW X5All 2003 cars
2014 100.0%100.0%
2015 97.2%91.9%
2016 93.9%82.8%
2017 89.9%71.0%
2018 83.7%59.8%
2019 76.0%50.5%
2020 69.1%43.6%
2021 62.4%37.0%
2022 55.2%32.6%
2023 48.5%29.2%
2024 42.1%25.6%
2025 37.4%23.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated

Recalls that may affect cars built around 2003

3 of the BMW X5’s 68 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2003. 3 have no build dates, so could apply to any year.

The 2003 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2003 may have been built in 2002, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.

BMW X5 recalls whose build dates include 2003
Launched Concern Built Vehicles
18 Dec 2025 Takata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs) 13 Apr 2000 to 30 Sept 2003 and 31 Aug 2006 to 6 Sept 2017 5,174
22 Mar 2019 Potential rupture of driver front air bag inflator 22 Dec 1999 to 29 Mar 2000 and 3 Apr 2000 to 23 Sept 2003 2,503
1 Nov 2016 Drivers airbag may deploy incorrectly 1 Feb 2002 to 31 Oct 2003 218,559 (all models)

Every BMW X5 recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls

Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated

Other years of the BMW X5

21 years of the BMW X5, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2010 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (75.8% passed first time) and the 2022 cars worst (84.9%).

BMW X5s by year of first registration
Year Registered Left Pass rate All cars
2002 1,733 60.4% 59.7%
2003 2,622 62.8% 58.9%
2004 3,266 63.3% 57.9%
2005 5,124 62.8% 57.7%
2006 3,037 62.0% 56.9%
2007 3,257 69.2% 57.3%
2008 3,144 72.0% 57.0%
2009 3,778 71.5% 58.2%
2010 3,646 75.8% 59.3%
2011 3,809 76.6% 61.5%
2012 3,879 76.5% 63.6%
2013 3,328 78.2% 66.0%
2014 6,314 5,298 84.5% 69.1%
2015 7,836 6,975 84.7% 72.6%
2016 7,751 6,475 86.9% 75.6%
2017 7,011 6,074 86.6% 79.1%
2018 7,648 6,958 85.5% 81.8%
2019 9,075 8,583 87.2% 84.4%
2020 5,453 4,951 88.2% 86.9%
2021 7,176 6,174 86.0% 88.4%
2022 8,099 7,372 84.9% 89.4%

Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results and mileage Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 1,421 MOT tests of 2003 BMW X5 cars 15 September 2026
Cars on the record Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of 2025 2,622 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) 15 September 2026
  • MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of BMW X5 cars first registered in 2003; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2003.
  • Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
  • Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
  • Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
  • Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
  • DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.