BMW M550i Xdrive common MOT failures and failure rate
What a BMW M550i Xdrive fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.
Based on 747 MOT tests in DVSA data.
About 13.3% of MOT tests recorded on the BMW M550i Xdrive in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.
Its most common failure is tyres, which makes up 64.6% of the BMW M550i Xdrive's failures, followed by tyres, other, exhaust & emissions, registration plate. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.
What it fails on, and why
Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.
This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.
Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.
A missing, damaged, dirty or incorrectly-spaced number plate, or one using the wrong font, will fail. A replacement plate is inexpensive.
Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.
Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.
Failure rate by year
How the MOT failure rate varies by the car's year of first registration (older examples generally fail more as wear sets in).
The parts that fix each
If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.
Other models
Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data · DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain