BMW 525i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 525i recorded a 77.9% MOT pass rate across 24,684 tests in this dataset (model years 1980–2022), with suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes its most common failure areas. Its 22.1% fail rate is higher than the 15.7% average across all BMW 5 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 57 | 80.7% | 19.3% |
| 1984 | 35 | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 1985 | 105 | 87.6% | 12.4% |
| 1986 | 193 | 77.7% | 22.3% |
| 1987 | 300 | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| 1988 | 153 | 75.2% | 24.8% |
| 1989 | 139 | 79.1% | 20.9% |
| 1990 | 149 | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| 1991 | 156 | 79.5% | 20.5% |
| 1992 | 211 | 77.7% | 22.3% |
| 1993 | 245 | 77.1% | 22.9% |
| 1994 | 346 | 77.2% | 22.8% |
| 1995 | 532 | 77.4% | 22.6% |
| 1996 | 218 | 75.2% | 24.8% |
| 2000 | 641 | 74.3% | 25.7% |
| 2001 | 3,153 | 75.6% | 24.4% |
| 2002 | 2,959 | 77.1% | 22.9% |
| 2003 | 2,544 | 75.8% | 24.2% |
| 2004 | 3,669 | 75.1% | 24.9% |
| 2005 | 2,206 | 78.2% | 21.8% |
| 2006 | 1,941 | 80.1% | 19.9% |
| 2007 | 1,780 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 2008 | 1,583 | 81.9% | 18.1% |
| 2009 | 1,099 | 83.4% | 16.6% |
| 2010 | 79 | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 2011 | 37 | 75.7% | 24.3% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.6% | 2,616 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 2,610 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 1,919 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 1,160 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 1,095 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,093 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.2% | 793 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.0% | 753 |
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 | 1,448 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 856 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 809 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 804 |
| 5 | Washers | 776 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 774 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.6% | 7,320 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 6,825 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.6% | 5,838 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.2% | 5,729 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.0% | 3,215 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 3,113 |
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 | 243 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,366 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,711 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 6,777 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 6,466 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 5,960 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,206 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 5,521 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 4,935 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 4,289 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 3,733 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a BMW 525i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 525i at MOT time?
77.9% of the 24,684 BMW 525i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate, worse than the 15.7% average across all 5 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 525i?
Suspension, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.6%).
Does the 525i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,684 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.