BMW 525D SE Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 525D SE car check
Is the BMW 525D SE reliable? We analysed 1,068 real MOT tests across 280 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 525D SE? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 525D SE is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 525D SE.
BMW 525D SE — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the BMW 525D SE — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 2497cc
- Power
- 177 BHP
- 0–62 mph
- 8.1 sec
- Fuel type
- Diesel
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Car
- Common colour
- Black
- Wheel plan
- 2 Axle Rigid Body
Fuel Economy
- Combined
- 42.2 mpg
- Urban
- 30.4 mpg
- Extra-urban
- 53.3 mpg
- Fuel cost / 12k mi
- £2367
Tax & Emissions
- CO2 output
- 179 g/km Band I
- Emission class
- Not Available
- Road tax (12 mo.)
- £260
- Road tax (6 mo.)
- £143
BMW 525D SE Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 525D SE. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 525D SE Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 525D SE owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 525D SE Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 525D SE MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the BMW 525D SE Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 525D SE THIS CAR | 69.9% | 1,068 | 160,741 mi | — yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Piaggio B500 | 82.7% | 1,476 | 18,350 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 525D SE trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 525D SE you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 525D SEShould you buy a used BMW 525D SE?
The BMW 525D SE has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 1,068 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
A typical BMW 525D SE owner drives around 6,570 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.