Used car guide

2005 BMW 525: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 BMW 525s, from 1,073 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,073MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
8,000typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 BMW 525s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    BMW 525
    21.2% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 2.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Airbag warning light4.3× usual
    BMW 525
    6.9% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 1.5% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 4.2% here, against 9.4% of all 2005 cars. Braking performance: 1.9% here, against 6.9% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 BMW 525 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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.

  • Brakes
    40% 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
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% 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
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a BMW 525?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2011706Tyres 31%
2010779Tyres 30%
20091,014Suspension 36%
20081,272Suspension 40%
20071,358Suspension 43%
20061,052Suspension 44%
2004770Suspension 47%
2003561Suspension 46%
2002586Brakes 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 BMW 525s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score