BMW 525d — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 525d passed 79.7% of its 68,698 MOT tests, covering model years 1988–2022. That is 4.6 percentage points worse than the 15.7% fail rate across all BMW 5 Series versions, so the 525d is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,107 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.3% versus 15.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 92 | 77.2% | 22.8% |
| 1994 | 295 | 73.9% | 26.1% |
| 1995 | 258 | 77.1% | 22.9% |
| 1996 | 180 | 73.9% | 26.1% |
| 1997 | 129 | 73.6% | 26.4% |
| 1998 | 133 | 73.7% | 26.3% |
| 2001 | 704 | 72.4% | 27.6% |
| 2002 | 2,154 | 72.6% | 27.4% |
| 2003 | 2,244 | 73.2% | 26.8% |
| 2004 | 4,098 | 75.3% | 24.7% |
| 2005 | 8,745 | 76.5% | 23.4% |
| 2006 | 7,362 | 77.7% | 22.3% |
| 2007 | 8,886 | 79.3% | 20.7% |
| 2008 | 7,762 | 80.1% | 19.9% |
| 2009 | 5,686 | 81.1% | 18.9% |
| 2010 | 5,624 | 82.3% | 17.7% |
| 2011 | 4,736 | 82.6% | 17.4% |
| 2012 | 1,808 | 81.2% | 18.8% |
| 2013 | 1,214 | 85.8% | 14.2% |
| 2014 | 2,382 | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| 2015 | 2,644 | 88.8% | 11.2% |
| 2016 | 1,409 | 88.1% | 11.9% |
| 2017 | 89 | 87.6% | 12.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.5% | 6,497 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 6,009 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 4,473 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.2% | 4,236 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,404 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 2,059 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.4% | 1,661 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,088 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,107 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,756 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,105 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,000 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,936 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,871 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.6% | 18,263 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.1% | 17,960 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.9% | 17,106 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 8,609 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.3% | 7,740 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 6,554 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 386 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,289 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 6,948 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 13,040 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 16,722 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 29,137 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,061 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 15,710 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 13,768 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 11,778 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 10,381 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 525d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Suspension (9.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 525d at MOT time?
79.7% of the 68,698 BMW 525d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate, worse than the 15.7% average across all 5 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 525d?
Suspension, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.8%).
Does the 525d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,698 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.