The picture
X5 Xdrive45e M Sport Auto: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,810 MOT tests, the X5 Xdrive45e M Sport Auto returns 85.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 37,986, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
126 occurrences · 7.0% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
93 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
42 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 04
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
17 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 05
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
17 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
17 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 07
A tyre cords visible or damaged
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 08
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
A tyre seriously damaged
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£75–£130
If every one of this X5 Xdrive45e M Sport Auto's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a X5 Xdrive45e M Sport Auto?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a X5 Xdrive45e M Sport Auto and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.