BMW 528 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 528. Check any 528 by registration number below.

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80.0%

Avg Pass Rate

-9.9%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

BMW 528 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 528 has an average MOT pass rate of 80.0%, which is 9.9 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 528 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW 528 fails its MOT are steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. If you are preparing your 528 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 528, 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 528 performs at MOT across different model years.

2017

Based on 63 vehicles

79.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

13.2%

2016

Based on 447 vehicles

88.8%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

15.9%

2015

Based on 682 vehicles

90.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

16.3%

Mileage at 10yr

71k mi

2014

Based on 432 vehicles

88.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

11.2%

Mileage at 10yr

110k mi

2013

Based on 255 vehicles

78.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

18.6%

Mileage at 10yr

109k mi

2012

Based on 190 vehicles

89.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.2%

Retest Rate

11.1%

Mileage at 10yr

115k mi

2011

Based on 422 vehicles

83.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

13.2%

2010

Based on 454 vehicles

84.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

11.8%

2001

Based on 51 vehicles

84.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

223k mi

2000

Based on 558 vehicles

72.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

19.5%

1999

Based on 807 vehicles

68.0%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

25.1%

1998

Based on 735 vehicles

67.6%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

19.2%

1997

Based on 386 vehicles

71.0%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

22.3%

1996

Based on 214 vehicles

65.0%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

27.2%

1995

Based on 141 vehicles

90.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

1987

Based on 82 vehicles

82.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

10.2%

1986

Based on 41 vehicles

78.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

13.3%

0

Based on 2,445 vehicles

79.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

100k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 528

The most common reasons a BMW 528 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

4.2%

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

3.7%

Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen

3.5%

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

3.3%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

2.9%

BMW 528 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

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

Rear Nearside

3.2%

Front Nearside

3.2%

Rear Nearside Inner

1.6%

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 528

BMW 528 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 528 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 528?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 528 is 80.0% 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 528?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 528 are: Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (4.2%), Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (3.7%), Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen (3.5%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 528 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 80.0%, the BMW 528 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 528?

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 528?

Typical mileage for the BMW 528: 71,184 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 528 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 528's MOT History

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