1989 BMW 525 2.5L Petrol · FT 6361

The vehicle currently holds a valid roadworthiness pass from the September 2024 test at 198,016 miles, with no defects recorded. The maintenance trend appears stable in the most recent entry, though the history shows two failed tests in early 2023 at the same mileage before the eventual pass, indicating administrative or presentation issues rather than a clear mechanical decline. No advisories or faults have been logged across any test, so the record alone shows no worsening condition. The odometer reads 198,016 miles against a 37-year lifespan, equating to roughly 5,352 miles per year, which is low for a 1989 BMW 525. The mileage froze at 198,016 across the 2023 and 2024 tests and moved only fourteen miles between the June 2019 failure and pass at 198,002 and the 2023 entries. Such stagnation suggests long periods of storage or minimal road use, with a notable nine-month gap between the February and May 2023 tests and a four-year void before that from mid-2019. A buyer should physically inspect structural integrity and corrosion on the underbody and sills, as a low-mileage, aged saloon left standing often develops hidden rust despite clean MOT sheets. The brake discs, calipers, and suspension bushes demand hands-on checks for binding or perishing rubber, since the 2023 failures with no listed defects point to possible documentation gaps rather than confirmed soundness. Given the repeated 2023 failures with zero recorded faults and identical mileages, verify the V5C and test certificates to confirm the car was not failed on clerical grounds. The absence of advisories across the lifespan does not exempt the E34 chassis from age-related fatigue, so a pre-purchase inspection by a BMW specialist remains prudent.