What are the most common problems with a 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol?

Known faults on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol include ten recalls and electrical and sensor faults. The biggest MOT weak spot is flexible couplings: flagged on 3% of tests, 30× the rate for all 2017 cars, followed by drive shaft (cv) joints (3.9%).

What should I ask the seller before buying a used 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol?

Any recent work on the flexible couplings? (Flagged at MOT 30× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide

2017 BMW 5 Series petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol BMW 5 Series first registered in 2017 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 4,860 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,860MOTs of 2017 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025

85%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)

7,200typical miles a year

30×the usual rate for flexible couplings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol than on all cars registered in 2017.

Flexible couplings30× usual

BMW 5 Series
3% All 2017 cars
0.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.
Drive shaft (CV) joints3.5× usual

BMW 5 Series
3.9% All 2017 cars
1.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.6% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Shock absorbers1.8× usual

BMW 5 Series
5.7% All 2017 cars
3.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.
Wheels2.2× usual

BMW 5 Series
2% All 2017 cars
0.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Better than most

Brake discs: 2.7% here, against 10.9% of all 2017 cars.

Common 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Tyres

22% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

9% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Lights and electrics

6% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Suspension

6% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Driveshafts and joints

4% of testsRough price £60–£350

At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

4% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Ten recalls
All engines
Recalls also covered the brake pedal switch, curtain airbags, the steering gear, a balance shaft bearing, 48-volt battery cables, rear driveshafts and plug-in hybrid batteries.

At the viewing: Ask a BMW dealer to confirm every recall has been done.

Source: What Car?: used BMW 5 Series (2017-2023) reliability
Electrical and sensor faults
All engines
Most petrol faults are electrical, including faulty sensors, persistent warning lights and infotainment faults.

At the viewing: Test every button and screen, and look for warning lights.

Source: What Car?: used BMW 5 Series (2017-2023) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

Any recent work on the flexible couplings? (Flagged at MOT 30× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2017 BMW 5 Series petrol as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 5 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 5 Series compared

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2026	–	Too new for MOT data
2025	–	Too new for MOT data
2024	–	Too new for MOT data
2023	449	Tyres 12%
2022	2,690	Tyres 22%
2021	3,736	Tyres 22%
2020	12,610	Tyres 22%
2019	46,328	Tyres 23%
2018	56,183	Tyres 24%
2016	120	Tyres 18%
2015	188	Tyres 19%
2014	591	Tyres 24%
2013	17,632	Tyres 30%
2012	17,731	Tyres 30%
2011	3,218	Tyres 31%
2010	1,982	Tyres 30%
2009	2,128	Suspension 33%
2008	2,430	Suspension 37%
2007	2,675	Suspension 43%
2006	2,292	Suspension 43%
2005	1,153	Suspension 46%
2004	829	Suspension 48%
2003	630	Suspension 39%
2002	523	Brakes 39%
2001	360	Suspension 43%
2000	232	Suspension 41%
1999	174	Brakes 44%
1998	167	Brakes 38%
1997	–	Too few tests
1996	–	Too few tests
1995	–	Too few tests
1994	–	Too few tests
1993	–	Too few tests
1992	–	Too few tests
1991	–	Too few tests
1990	–	Too few tests
1989	–	Too few tests
1988	–	Too few tests
1987	–	Too few tests
1986	–	Too few tests
1985	–	Too few tests
1984	–	Too few tests
1983	–	Too few tests
1982	–	Too few tests
1981	–	Too few tests
1980	–	Too few tests
1979	–	Too few tests
1978	–	Too few tests
1975	–	Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 5 Series cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score