Diesel BMW 530: MOT pass rate

79.8% of diesel BMW 530s pass the MOT first time, measured across 19,127 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 130,855.

Diesel against the other BMW 530 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the BMW 530 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 79.8%, and this diesel version sits 0.3 points above the 79.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel BMW 530 had covered 130,855 miles at test, against 125,621 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 530 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel BMW 530

1. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.1% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.8% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.8% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.8% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.1% of tests
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.8% of tests
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.2% of tests
10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.4% of tests

From 19,202 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 530 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 530's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.44% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel BMW 530

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 3.9% of tests (7.01x the national rate for this defect)
2. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 9.5% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 21.8% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.1% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 8.2% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.2% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 8.4% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.3% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.7% of tests, also fails

From 19,202 DVSA-tracked diesel BMW 530 tests, 2024.

Other BMW 530 fuel types

• Petrol BMW 530 - 76.8%

All BMW 530 MOT data · Every model