Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 BMW 525?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 BMW 525?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 BMW 525?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 BMW 525 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 BMW 525 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 257 vehicles, the 2013 BMW 525 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 BMW 525?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 BMW 525 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.9% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (28% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 BMW 525?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 525 (2013)

257 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.4% first-time pass rate

2013 BMW 525

CarHunch analysed 257 real MOT records for the 2013 BMW 525. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 BMW 525 diesel passes its MOT at 85.4%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but there's a serious caveat: 40% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical levels and a genuine concern for buyers. This reliability advantage is genuine, not inflated by low-mileage examples—the median sits at 83,678 miles, right where you'd expect an 11-year-old car to be.

These cars are picking up an average of 1.61 failures and 9.2 advisories per MOT, suggesting modest repair needs but plenty of minor wear items requiring attention. Before committing to purchase, have an independent BMW specialist inspection done focusing on the suspension, cooling system, and electronics—areas where high advisory counts often cluster on this model—and ask for full service records to verify maintenance intervals have been met.

We have limited data for the 2013 BMW 525 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

85.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

40.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.61

Over 10.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 62k–107k

For context

These stats describe 257 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 257 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 28%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 16.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 257 BMW 525 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 BMW 525

Based on MOT data from 257 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	255	85.4%	1.62

Colour Breakdown

Based on 58,899 BMW 525 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 23.1%

13,592

Blue 21.7%

12,761

Black 17.8%

10,462

Grey 16.3%

9,590

Green 8.1%

4,753

Red 6.9%

4,044

White 4%

2,374

Bronze 0.9%

520

Beige 0.4%

236

Gold 0.4%

214

Brown 0.3%

201

Purple 0.3%

152

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 BMW 525 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

83,678

typical

62,118

low mileage

106,809

high mileage

Half of all 2013 BMW 525 vehicles fall between 62,118 and 106,809 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 62,118 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 62,118–106,809 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 BMW 525s sit.

⚠ Over 144,192 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 BMW 525 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 BMW 525s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 186 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 80% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.61

Avg failures per vehicle

9.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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Watch for defects — worth knowing