BMW 530 (2002)

4,712 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.6% first-time pass rate

2002 BMW 530

CarHunch analysed 4,712 real MOT records for the 2002 BMW 530. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 5.4% below UK average
74.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
122,952
typical mileage
99,311–146,398 middle half
38.1%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.51
avg MOT failures per car
over 17 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.5%
Petrol
2,006 vehicles
74%
Diesel
2,692 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2002 BMW 530

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 38.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a BMW 530

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (57%) 2,692 74% 4.56
Petrol (43%) 2,006 75.5% 4.45
LPG (0%) 13 76% 4.62
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 74.1% 7

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 BMW 530 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

99,311
low mileage
122,952
typical
146,398
high mileage

Half of all 2002 BMW 530 vehicles fall between 99,311 and 146,398 miles.

2002 BMW 530 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 857 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (24% of peak).

3,512 857 2014 2025

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

MOT History Averages

17
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.51
Avg failures per vehicle
24
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 BMW 530

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 94.7%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 93.5%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 70.5%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 59.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 58.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42.4%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 39.2%
    Oil leak
  • 36.9%
    Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific BMW 530?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — BMW 530:

1988 1989 1990 1993 1994 1995 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018