Used car guide · 1992–2009

BMW 525i common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used BMW 525i, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 10,022 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

10,022MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20092008200720062005200420032002200120001995199419931992

What usually goes wrong with a BMW 525i?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the BMW 525i in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common BMW 525i MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Steering rack

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

BMW 525i MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 BMW 525i did best (73% passed first time, 16 points above all 2008 cars) and the 2005 did worst (68%, 11 points above all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200973%59% +14531
200873%57% +16770
200773%57% +16827
200670%56% +14874
200568%57% +11930
200462%57% +51,482
200365%57% +81,098
200267%58% +91,280
200165%60% +51,321
200064%61% +3273 (small sample)
199571%67% +4263 (small sample)
199474%67% +7150 (small sample)
199373%68% +5120 (small sample)
199274%69% +5103 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a BMW 525i

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the BMW 525i as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the BMW 525i as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the steering rack? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the BMW 525i as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 525i?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score