Used car guide

1999 BMW 535i: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 535i first registered in 1999: we looked at the 195 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 195 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

195MOTs of 1999 cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 63%)
5,000typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 BMW 535i?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 BMW 535i than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    BMW 535i
    28.7% All 1999 cars
    14.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Common 1999 BMW 535i MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1999 BMW 535i MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    35% 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.

  • Suspension
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    33% 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.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    16% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 BMW 535i

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 1999 BMW 535i as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 535i?

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 535i compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016275Tyres 23%
2015424Tyres 23%
2014295Tyres 20%
2013174Tyres 25%
2012154Tyres 21%
2011295Tyres 23%
2010347Tyres 23%
2002105Brakes 39%
2001122Suspension 34%
2000180Oil and fluid leaks 33%
1998273Brakes 37%
1997126Brakes 36%

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 535i cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score