2017 BMW X5 3.0L Diesel · G2 AXM

Chronic front suspension wear is the defining mechanical theme across this X5's MOT record, with lower arm ball joint play appearing on both sides in successive tests. The most recent examination on 22 May 2026 recorded an advisory for slight play in the nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint, and this followed an identical advisory on the offside front in May 2025. With two years of progressive ball joint deterioration now documented on opposite sides of the front axle, the bushings and lower arms themselves should be regarded as approaching end-of-service life rather than merely worn. Elsewhere in the recent record, tyre wear has been a recurring feature, with offside rear edge wear flagged in May 2024 and a small inner tread cut noted in 2023, indicating that the rear axle geometry or tyre pressures may be worth scrutinising. Annual mileage of approximately 13,500 miles against a nine-year vehicle age places this X5 firmly in the higher-use category for its class, accelerating wear on friction materials, driveline mountings, and suspension consumables. There is no evidence in the recorded tests of any prolonged standing period, and the gap between the June 2020 pass and the May 2021 test represents normal annual scheduling rather than a lay-up. Earlier records from 2020 and 2021 do show a cluster of advisories, including nearside rear and both front tyres flagged close to the legal limit on multiple occasions in 2020, followed by a dangerous failure on 20 May 2021 when both rear tyres were found below the 1.6mm tread requirement, with corresponding front tyre advisories. That dangerous failure, while ultimately remediated prior to the subsequent pass four days later, sits within a pattern of accelerated tyre wear that warrants careful inspection of the current set. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front suspension during a test drive. Listen for clonks or knocking from the front end over speed humps, kerb strikes, and uneven tarmac, and feel for vagueness or a slight delay in steering response that would suggest the lower arm ball joints have progressed beyond the slight play stage documented in the MOT. Inspect the offside front ball joint area as well, since its advisory was recorded one year earlier than the nearside and may be marginally further advanced. Push the stationary vehicle side to side at the front wings with the wheels hanging and check for any clunking transmitted through the suspension, which would indicate worn bushes or droop links alongside the arms. Examine the lower arms, subframe, and anti-roll bar drop links for any surface corrosion, cracked rubber, or perished bushes, and consider whether a complete lower arm replacement pair, rather than a single arm, is the prudent course. The braking system also warrants focused checks. The 2023 test noted rear brake pads getting worn, and although no further brake advisories have appeared since, the combination of high mileage and 121,572 recorded miles means pads and discs front and rear should be inspected for remaining thickness and lipping. On the road, listen for any grinding or scraping under light braking, and feel for a soft pedal, pulsation through the pedal under firm application, or pulling to one side that could indicate a binding caliper, warped disc, or uneven pad wear. Finally, the recurring tyre wear pattern should be investigated rather than dismissed; ask for evidence of a recent four-wheel alignment, examine the rear tyres for inner-edge feathering, and check the sidewalls for any cracking given the vehicle's age. A vehicle of this mileage and vintage with documented front suspension deterioration and a prior dangerous tyre failure requires a thorough pre-purchase inspection, ideally on a ramp, before committing.