Used car guide

2007 BMW 525d: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 525d first registered in 2007: we looked at the 3,843 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,843MOTs of 2007 cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
9,400typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2007 BMW 525d?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2007 BMW 525d than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.3× usual
    BMW 525d
    9.8% All 2007 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, 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: 2.6% here, against 10.9% of all 2007 cars. Exhaust system: 2% here, against 8.9% of all 2007 cars.

Common 2007 BMW 525d MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2007 BMW 525d MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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
    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.

  • Brakes
    28% 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
    24% 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
    12% 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 525d

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 2.3× as often on the 2007 BMW 525d as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 525d?

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 525d compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016734Tyres 28%
20151,405Tyres 27%
20141,226Tyres 26%
2013612Tyres 26%
2012843Tyres 32%
20112,231Tyres 30%
20102,550Tyres 30%
20092,646Suspension 35%
20083,466Suspension 39%
20062,987Suspension 46%
20053,360Suspension 48%
20041,488Suspension 54%
2003861Suspension 50%
2002777Suspension 49%
2001249Suspension 46%
1995119Suspension 45%
1994135Suspension 41%

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 525d cars first registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score