Used car guide

2007 BMW 530d: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 530d first registered in 2007: we looked at the 4,000 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,000MOTs of 2007 cars, done in 2023–2025
71%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
9,400typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2007 BMW 530d?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2007 BMW 530d than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Flexible brake hoses2× usual
    BMW 530d
    8.4% All 2007 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.7% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.1% here, against 10.9% of all 2007 cars. Exhaust system: 1.2% here, against 8.9% of all 2007 cars.

Common 2007 BMW 530d MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2007 BMW 530d MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    39% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    27% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2007 BMW 530d

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

  1. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2007 BMW 530d as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 530d?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 530d compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022943Tyres 23%
20211,811Tyres 22%
20201,266Tyres 19%
2018129Tyres 15%
2017648Tyres 23%
20164,688Tyres 25%
20155,639Tyres 25%
20145,382Tyres 26%
20132,314Tyres 23%
20122,846Tyres 28%
20114,289Tyres 29%
20106,168Tyres 30%
20093,004Suspension 31%
20083,201Suspension 35%
20063,947Suspension 44%
20053,450Suspension 45%
20042,652Suspension 48%
20032,063Suspension 46%
20021,510Brakes 44%
2001688Brakes 47%
2000525Suspension 47%
1999302Brakes 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 530d cars first registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score