BMW 528 MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 1,625 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 75.6% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 85.3% of cars aged 6–9 years passed first time, against 64.5% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a BMW 528?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 years | 395 | 85.3% |
| 10–14 years | 627 | 80.2% |
| 15–30 years | 603 | 64.5% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a BMW 528 to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Condition — 3.7% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Washers — 3.5% of tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.3% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Brake Performance — 3.2% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Suspension Arms — 2.3% of tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Headlamps — 2.3% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
Before you buy
- Condition — 3.7% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Washers — 3.5% of tests in 2024. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.3% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Brake Performance — 3.2% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Check the actual 528 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other BMW models
- BMW 3 Series — 72.1% pass
- BMW 118 — 78% pass
- BMW 116 — 72.7% pass
- BMW X1 — 82.9% pass
- BMW X3 — 78.4% pass
- BMW X5 — 78.7% pass
See every BMW model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the BMW 528 MOT pass rate?
75.6% of 1,625 class-4 initial MOT tests on the BMW 528 passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the 528 fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are condition (3.7% of tests), washers (3.5% of tests), headlamp aim (3.3% of tests), brake performance (3.2% of tests).
Does this tell me whether one particular 528 is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.