BMW 525
From 26,057 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 525s fare better: 2016 models pass at 88.4% vs 70.3% for 2001.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,240 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,240 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 670 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 557 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 546 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 408 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 407 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 381 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 371 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 359 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 306 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 52.6% of 525 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 7.8% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £122.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 88.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2015 | 87.1% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 86.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2013 | 83.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
18 earlier years
| 2012 | 81% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 84.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 81.6% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 81.6% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2008 | 78.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 75.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 75.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2005 | 73.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 70.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction |
| 2003 | 71.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 75.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 70.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 68.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1996 | 76.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1995 | 78.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 1994 | 74.8% | 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 |
| 1993 | 83.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
| 1987 | 85.5% | brake hose bulging under pressure, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
Typical mileage
Half of all 525s tested had between 93,344 and 141,022 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 124,157 median miles, the 525 has 0.018 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 525 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 525 has a 77.4% MOT pass rate based on 26,057 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 525?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 525 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,240 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 525 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 525 is 124,157 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 93,344 and 141,022 miles.
Buying a used 525?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 77.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £122 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.