The picture
Cmx 500 A-X: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,083 MOT tests, the Cmx 500 A-X returns 92.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is brake pads worn below 1.0 mm. A non-functioning shock absorber and rate of flashing not between 60 round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 7,423, 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
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
8 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 02
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
7 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 03
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
6 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 04
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 05
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 06
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 07
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
A wheel bearing with excessive play
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
Brake control has insufficient reserve travel
2 occurrences · 0.2% 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 3 failures
£155–£290
If every one of this Cmx 500 A X'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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Build your own retest budget.
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
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
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
Item 03 · 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
Buying or keeping a Cmx 500 A X?
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 Cmx 500 A X 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.