Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 BMW 528?

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 2011 BMW 528?

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 2011 BMW 528?

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 2011 BMW 528 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% 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 2011 BMW 528 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 222 vehicles, the 2011 BMW 528 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 BMW 528?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 BMW 528 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (38.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.8% 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 2011 BMW 528?

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 528 (2011)

222 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.1% first-time pass rate

2011 BMW 528

CarHunch analysed 222 real MOT records for the 2011 BMW 528. 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 2011 BMW 528 passes its MOT at 86.1%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but nearly three in ten of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. With an average of 1.8 failures and 7.7 advisories per test, these BMWs tend to accumulate minor issues even when they pass.

At a median mileage of 61,864 for a 13-year-old car, these are relatively well-used examples, and the high advisory count suggests routine wear items like brake components and suspension elements need regular attention. Before buying, insist on a full service history and get an independent engineer's report that specifically checks the suspension and brake systems—the advisory patterns indicate these are where costs typically emerge.

We have limited data for the 2011 BMW 528 — 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

86.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.8

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

62k

Middle half: 47k–79k

For context

These stats describe 222 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 222 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 39.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 38.4%

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

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

Other issues 33.4%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Suspension & steering 17.3%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 222 BMW 528 cars.

Before you buy a 2011 BMW 528

Based on MOT data from 222 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.4% 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
Petrol (98%)	217	86.3%	1.76

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,399 BMW 528 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.1%

4,629

Blue 24.6%

3,538

Green 18.7%

2,687

Black 10.1%

1,449

Red 5.7%

820

Grey 5.6%

804

White 2%

289

Beige 0.4%

Bronze 0.3%

Brown 0.2%

Gold 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 BMW 528 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.

61,864

typical

47,473

low mileage

78,522

high mileage

Half of all 2011 BMW 528 vehicles fall between 47,473 and 78,522 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,473 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.

✓ 47,473–78,522 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 BMW 528s sit.

⚠ Over 106,004 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 BMW 528 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2011 BMW 528s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 165 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.8

Avg failures per vehicle

7.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 528: All 528 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2011 BMW 528 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing