What year BMW 525 E Auto is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1987 BMW 525 E Auto has the highest pass rate at 100.0%, out of 608 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 525 E Auto MOT failures?

The most common BMW 525 E Auto MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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BMW 525 E Auto — Reliability by Year

5,216 vehicles · MOT data 1983–1987 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 525 E Auto was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

1987

100.0% pass rate · 608 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1984

86.7% pass rate · 1,160 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1987	100.0%	98,139 mi	608
1986	100.0%	91,229 mi	1,288
1985	—	—	1,363
1984	86.7%	161,650 mi	1,160
1983	—	—	797

Which year BMW 525 E Auto is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 91,229 miles (newest year) to 161,650 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 525 E Auto.

See the buying guide →

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