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BF51 TAU

2001 BMW 525

Blue Diesel 2497cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Nov 2026
Tests35 (21 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

149,678 mi
Last recorded149,678 miles
Recorded on27 Nov 2025
Typical for 2001 BMW 525106,448 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationBF51 TAU
MakeBMW
Model525
Year2001
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,497cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

21 pass 14 fail
Pass 27 Nov 2025 149,678 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear jacking points corroded and damaged.

Fail 18 Nov 2025 149,664 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low Unable to adjust (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear jacking points corroded and damaged.

Pass 29 Nov 2024 144,058 miles

Nearside steering rack has slight play

nearside and offside sill end lips getting weak

Pass 10 Aug 2023 135,783 miles

offside front feed brake pipe rusty

Nearside front to rear rusty

Offside sill end getting weak

fuel pipe getting weak

Pass 22 Aug 2022 127,276 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2021 120,487 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2021 120,482 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.2.2 (e))

Exhaust emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values (8.2.2.2 (f))

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 21 Aug 2020 114,525 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2020 114,525 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 21 Aug 2019 108,003 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 8 Aug 2019 108,003 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 17 Aug 2018 101,544 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2017 86,104 miles
Fail 30 Aug 2017 86,104 miles

Headlamp aim too low n/s/f headlight ajustment broken (1.8)

Headlamp aim too low o/s/f headlight ajustment broken (1.8)

Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint both front (2.4.G.2)

Brake pipe slightly corroded o/s/r (3.6.B.2c)

Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint n/s/f (2.4.G.2)

Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint o/s/r (2.4.G.2)

Suspension arm has slight play in a track control arm inner bush n/s/f forward (2.5.B.2b)

Suspension arm has slight play in a track control arm inner bush o/s/f forward (2.5.B.2b)

Fail 17 Jul 2017 86,050 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt joint also has play (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint rear most arm ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.5mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

metal brake pipes around vehicle have advancing levels of corrosion present

Pass 27 Oct 2016 84,418 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint rear ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear tyre feathered on inner edge

Fail 24 Oct 2016 84,383 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases both flexi joints (7.1.2)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint rear ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear tyre feathered on inner edge

Pass 22 Oct 2015 80,287 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.5mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

metal brake pipes corroding around vehicle

Fail 21 Oct 2015 80,287 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick warning displayed on dash (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by damage bumper insecured (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.5mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade insecure arm insecure (8.2.2)

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

metal brake pipes corroding around vehicle

rear wiper was not locking into the wiper arm

Pass 29 Oct 2014 76,199 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

scuff mark on wall of ofside rear tyre

Fail 28 Oct 2014 76,199 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Outer Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

scuff mark on wall of ofside rear tyre

Pass 22 Oct 2013 71,700 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

offside front brake back plate deteriorated

offside front tyre outer sidewall damaged

Fail 22 Oct 2013 71,700 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

offside front brake back plate deteriorated

offside front tyre outer sidewall damaged

Fail 25 Oct 2012 65,893 miles

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 25 Oct 2012 65,893 miles

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 20 Oct 2011 59,959 miles

Nearside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 Oct 2010 53,471 miles

Nearside Inner Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Inner Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 28 Oct 2010 53,471 miles

Offside Inner Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Inner Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Inner Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 19 Oct 2009 47,903 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 19 Oct 2009 47,903 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2008 40,806 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2007 36,818 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2007 36,818 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 30 Oct 2006 31,935 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

front innerbrake pads appear well worn

o/s/front tyre badly worn on inner edges

uneven wear in o/s/rear tyre

Pass 25 Oct 2005 26,682 miles

O/S front tyre worn severly on both edges

How Reliable is the BMW 525?

Based on 724,963 MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles.

74.4%
Pass Rate
7,259
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
56,965
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,171
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,227
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,065
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 9,710
Full BMW 525 reliability report

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BF51 TAU is a 2001 BMW 525 in Blue with a 2,497cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 35 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

Across all 2001 BMW 525 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 106,448 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 525 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,171 recorded failures. If you're considering buying BF51 TAU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 525 typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 25 years old, this BMW 525 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BF51 TAU?

You can check the full history of BF51 TAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BF51 TAU registered?

BF51 TAU is a 2001 BMW 525, first registered on 10 September 2001.

Is BF51 TAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for BF51 TAU shows 35 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BF51 TAU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on BF51 TAU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.