BMW 525 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 525 car check
Is the BMW 525 reliable? We analysed 724,963 real MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 525? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 525 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 525.
BMW 525 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 525. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 525 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 525 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 525 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 525 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 525 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 525 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 525 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 525 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 123 | 83.7% | 37,298 | 72,616 | 109,438 |
| 2016 | 2,211 | 87.0% | 47,736 | 69,911 | 96,186 |
| 2015 | 4,683 | 87.5% | 48,805 | 73,576 | 101,769 |
| 2014 | 4,881 | 86.2% | 54,855 | 81,093 | 109,406 |
| 2013 | 2,746 | 84.2% | 58,898 | 85,608 | 114,025 |
| 2012 | 4,754 | 81.7% | 59,534 | 88,160 | 117,740 |
| 2011 | 14,065 | 81.7% | 57,782 | 87,840 | 120,831 |
| 2010 | 18,858 | 81.6% | 57,362 | 88,176 | 121,820 |
| 2009 | 23,796 | 80.1% | 60,158 | 93,701 | 130,394 |
| 2008 | 38,855 | 79.1% | 64,268 | 98,883 | 137,138 |
| 2007 | 50,980 | 78.3% | 68,481 | 103,362 | 142,187 |
| 2006 | 55,110 | 75.9% | 68,142 | 103,160 | 140,174 |
| 2005 | 88,287 | 75.4% | 74,431 | 108,598 | 145,117 |
| 2004 | 80,185 | 75.0% | 67,984 | 101,069 | 136,598 |
| 2003 | 54,238 | 73.7% | 70,469 | 103,304 | 139,682 |
| 2002 | 71,512 | 73.4% | 77,222 | 108,772 | 143,060 |
| 2001 | 64,796 | 72.5% | 78,309 | 106,448 | 137,043 |
| 2000 | 13,198 | 71.8% | 79,454 | 106,192 | 135,333 |
| 1999 | 1,160 | 65.3% | 97,356 | 130,049 | 158,411 |
| 1998 | 8,743 | 67.2% | 109,428 | 140,771 | 173,080 |
How Long Does a BMW 525 Last?
Based on 56,965 BMW 525 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 525 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 525 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 525
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.5% MOT pass rate from 4,683 tests
65.3% MOT pass rate from 1,160 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 525 is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.5% across 4,683 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 525 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 525 THIS CAR | 74.4% | 724,963 | 109,753 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Chrysler Grand Voyager | 69% | 387,238 | 88,976 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 525 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 525 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 525Should you buy a used BMW 525?
The BMW 525 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.4% across 724,963 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 525 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (33,171 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (17,448), and brake pipe excessively corroded (16,227). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical BMW 525 owner drives around 7,259 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 525 models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.