2001 BMW 530 MOT pass rate: 72.4% (1,809 tests)
Is the 2001 530 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2001-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 72.6% +6.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 72.5% +6.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 72.0% +4.2 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 2001 530
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 470 | 25.2% |
| 2 | Brakes | 374 | 20.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 333 | 17.9% |
| 4 | Tyres | 134 | 7.2% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 131 | 7.0% |
| 6 | Steering | 108 | 5.8% |
All 530 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 (this page) | 1,809 | 72.4% | +5.8 pts | 143,046 |
| 2002 | 3,083 | 72.6% | +6.9 pts | 147,880 |
| 2003 | 3,461 | 72.0% | +7.0 pts | 144,521 |
| 2004 | 3,683 | 73.7% | +9.4 pts | 149,396 |
| 2005 | 4,160 | 73.5% | +9.0 pts | 157,550 |
| 2006 | 4,644 | 75.1% | +10.6 pts | 157,419 |
| 2007 | 4,742 | 77.0% | +11.9 pts | 153,166 |
| 2008 | 3,705 | 79.1% | +14.0 pts | 145,403 |
| 2009 | 3,269 | 79.5% | +13.1 pts | 138,507 |
| 2010 | 6,174 | 78.3% | +10.9 pts | 126,830 |
| 2011 | 4,356 | 79.8% | +10.6 pts | 123,460 |
| 2012 | 2,922 | 80.4% | +9.2 pts | 115,217 |
| 2013 | 2,338 | 84.4% | +11.1 pts | 110,408 |
| 2014 | 5,359 | 86.3% | +10.5 pts | 96,968 |
| 2015 | 5,610 | 87.3% | +8.6 pts | 86,468 |
| 2016 | 4,673 | 88.4% | +7.0 pts | 76,104 |
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FAQs
Is a 2001 BMW 530 reliable?
2001-registered examples passed 72.4% of their MOT tests (1,809 tests, 2023–2025), +5.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 25 years old with a median 143,046 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2001 530?
The median tested example shows 143,046 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 2001 530?
In this cohort petrols pass 74.1% of tests against 69.8% 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.