BMW 525 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 525. Check any 525 by registration number below.

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79.2%

Avg Pass Rate

-10.7%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

BMW 525 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 525 has an average MOT pass rate of 79.2%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your 525 on the road.

The most common reasons a BMW 525 fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your 525 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used BMW 525, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 525 performs at MOT across different model years.

2017

Based on 44 vehicles

75.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

Based on 2,200 vehicles

82.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.1%

Retest Rate

17.2%

2010

Based on 2,411 vehicles

81.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.9%

Retest Rate

16.6%

2009

Based on 3,031 vehicles

80.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

18.4%

2008

Based on 3,988 vehicles

77.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.2%

Retest Rate

21.2%

2007

Based on 4,389 vehicles

77.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

22.1%

2006

Based on 3,867 vehicles

76.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

20.8%

2005

Based on 4,263 vehicles

73.8%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

23.6%

2004

Based on 2,831 vehicles

71.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.5%

Retest Rate

21.2%

2003

Based on 1,871 vehicles

70.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.2%

Retest Rate

25.6%

2002

Based on 1,884 vehicles

72.1%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

25.0%

2001

Based on 1,342 vehicles

70.8%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

22.6%

2000

Based on 218 vehicles

63.3%Below Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

35.3%

1999

Based on 695 vehicles

89.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

232k mi

1998

Based on 1,123 vehicles

89.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

17.9%

Mileage at 10yr

229k mi

1997

Based on 1,282 vehicles

90.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

8.9%

1996

Based on 1,162 vehicles

89.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

20.5%

1995

Based on 458 vehicles

76.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.2%

Retest Rate

12.4%

1994

Based on 342 vehicles

76.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

17.6%

1993

Based on 186 vehicles

80.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

8.7%

1992

Based on 116 vehicles

74.1%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

19.0%

1991

Based on 91 vehicles

80.2%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

8.8%

1990

Based on 77 vehicles

70.1%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

25.0%

1989

Based on 62 vehicles

80.6%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

19.0%

1988

Based on 91 vehicles

81.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

15.2%

1987

Based on 218 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

5.1%

1986

Based on 111 vehicles

70.3%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

26.6%

1985

Based on 65 vehicles

89.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

9.8%

1984

Based on 44 vehicles

72.7%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

30.8%

0

Based on 18,842 vehicles

78.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

138k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 525

The most common reasons a BMW 525 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

4.4%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

4.0%

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

3.5%

A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED

3.5%

An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction

3.0%

BMW 525 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

4.5%

Front Offside

4.5%

Rear Nearside

2.3%

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 525

BMW 525 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 525 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 525?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 525 is 79.2% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 525?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 525 are: The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (4.4%), Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded (4.0%), A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.5%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 525 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 79.2%, the BMW 525 is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 525?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 525?

Typical mileage for the BMW 525: 177,106 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 525 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 525's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.