2003 BMW 525 MOT pass rate: 68.9% (1,935 tests)
Is the 2003 525 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.5% +4.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 67.7% +2.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 70.8% +4.6 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 525
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 534 | 25.3% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 406 | 19.2% |
| 3 | Brakes | 404 | 19.1% |
| 4 | Tyres | 205 | 9.7% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 134 | 6.3% |
| 6 | Steering | 126 | 6.0% |
All 525 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,549 | 70.4% | +3.8 pts | 133,206 |
| 2002 | 2,037 | 70.9% | +5.2 pts | 140,238 |
| 2003 (this page) | 1,935 | 68.9% | +3.8 pts | 134,464 |
| 2004 | 2,931 | 69.9% | +5.6 pts | 144,712 |
| 2005 | 4,247 | 72.9% | +8.4 pts | 158,142 |
| 2006 | 3,836 | 74.3% | +9.9 pts | 151,375 |
| 2007 | 4,644 | 75.6% | +10.5 pts | 151,959 |
| 2008 | 4,206 | 76.6% | +11.5 pts | 143,914 |
| 2009 | 3,146 | 77.0% | +10.6 pts | 134,063 |
| 2010 | 2,583 | 79.3% | +11.9 pts | 124,950 |
| 2011 | 2,228 | 80.8% | +11.6 pts | 125,538 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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FAQs
Is a 2003 BMW 525 reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 68.9% of their MOT tests (1,935 tests, 2023–2025), +3.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 134,464 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 525?
The median tested example shows 134,464 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2003 525?
In this cohort petrols pass 71.2% of tests against 65.8% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.