BMW 528: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 528 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,950 individual BMW 528 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate77.9%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+1.2 points
Tests analysed1,950
Average mileage at test99,793 miles
Average year of manufacture2006
Reliability rank1,522 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 77.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 BMW 528s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 528 tested had covered 99,793 miles and was built around 2006.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 528 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 528 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW 528s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 528

  1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.7% of tests (4.68x the national rate for this defect)
  2. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.1% of tests (3.58x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.9% of tests (3.46x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.2% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.8% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.7% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)
  7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.2% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
  8. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.4% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.8% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.6% of tests

From 3,875 DVSA-tracked BMW 528 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.08% of these flagged BMW 528 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW 528 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW 528 year:

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate