Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 BMW 525 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 2016 BMW 525 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 260 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 525 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 525?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 525 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (28.5% 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 2016 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 (2016)

260 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.3% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 525

CarHunch analysed 260 real MOT records for the 2016 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 BMW 525 passes its MOT first time in 88.3% of cases, which is a solid 8 percentage points above the UK average—but the concerning note is that nearly a third of these cars (31.5%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting serious issues do emerge even in apparently reliable examples. This reliability premium comes with a caveat: buyers need to be aware that when problems do occur, they tend to be significant.

At an average mileage of 73,049 miles for a car now eight years old, these 525s have been moderately used, and the typical vehicle picks up around 1 failure and nearly 6 advisories per test—mostly minor wear items rather than structural problems. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus specifically on the cooling system, suspension, and brake components, where BMW models of this age commonly rack up advisories.

We have limited data for the 2016 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

88.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

31.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.01

Over 7.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 54k–89k

For context

These stats describe 260 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 260 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 52.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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 25%

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

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

Other issues 9.2%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 260 BMW 525 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 525

Based on MOT data from 260 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.5% 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

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 2016 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.

69,228

typical

53,763

low mileage

89,360

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 525 vehicles fall between 53,763 and 89,360 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 53,763 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.

✓ 53,763–89,360 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 525s sit.

⚠ Over 120,636 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 525 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 BMW 525s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 225 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* 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

7.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.01

Avg failures per vehicle

5.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 525: All 525 years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing