Used car guide

2016 BMW 530: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 BMW 530s, from 1,545 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,545MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
9,500typical miles a year
27×the usual rate for flexible couplings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 BMW 530s than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Flexible couplings27× usual
    BMW 530
    2.7% All 2016 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Wheels2.3× usual
    BMW 530
    2.5% All 2016 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.3% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Brake discs: 3.6% here, against 12.3% of all 2016 cars. Brake pads: 4.7% here, against 10.2% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 BMW 530 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Suspension
    9% 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
    8% 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
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a BMW 530?

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

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20151,856Tyres 26%
20141,787Tyres 26%
2013758Tyres 23%
2012940Tyres 25%
20111,383Tyres 29%
20101,888Tyres 30%
20091,017Suspension 33%
20081,135Suspension 38%
20071,421Suspension 40%
20061,358Suspension 44%
20051,139Suspension 46%
2004952Suspension 44%
20031,012Suspension 41%
2002921Brakes 41%
2001534Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 BMW 530s registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score