2006 BMW 525 2.5L Petrol · OV06 TOH

The most recent DVSA examination on 17 April 2026 resulted in a pass, although the tester recorded two advisories which are consistent with the pattern observed over the previous four tests. A recurring offside front play in the steering rack inner joint has now appeared in three consecutive MOTs, while surface corrosion on the rear anti-roll bar has been flagged in 2024 and again in 2025 and 2026. Taken together, the history suggests a vehicle that continues to pass at the threshold of roadworthiness but is showing a gradually worsening trend on the front steering and rear suspension components, with no advisories from the most recent test that were not already present in prior years. The absence of any advisory regarding braking efficiency, emissions, structure, or drivetrain is reassuring and indicates that the core safety systems remain serviceable. The recorded mileage of 118,350 miles over a 20-year life equates to an average of approximately 5,918 miles per annum, which is well below the typical mileage for a vehicle of this vintage and certainly for a BMW 5 Series that would often have covered 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year in regular service. This unusually low figure strongly implies extended periods of standing or only occasional use, with the MOT intervals themselves suggesting relatively modest accumulation between tests. While low mileage is generally favourable for the engine and gearbox internals, prolonged standing brings its own mechanical concerns, particularly with respect to corrosion of underbody components, ageing of rubber and polymer parts, and degradation of fluids and the 12V battery. The 5,000 to 6,000 mile per year pattern observed here is consistent with a car that may have been used as occasional transport rather than a daily driver, and the presence of rust-related advisories on the anti-roll bar and brake pipe is already corroborative evidence of standing-related corrosion setting in. Given the recurring advisories, a prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the steering system during a test drive. Play in the offside front steering rack inner joint typically manifests as a vagueness around the straight-ahead position, a slight delay in steering response, or a faint knock or clunk when traversing speed humps, driveway entrances, or uneven surfaces at low speed. The condition is progressive, and although it has not yet reached failure point, a replacement steering rack or inner joint refurbishment is likely to become necessary within the next year or two, and budgeting accordingly is prudent. While driving, the buyer should also listen for any knocking from the rear anti-roll bar, particularly over undulating roads, as corroded drop links and worn bushes frequently accompany visible corrosion on the bar itself, and the cost of renewing these components together is modest relative to the benefit to ride and handling. Beyond the advisory-related items, the low annual mileage and twenty-year age of this 525d demand particular attention to age-related deterioration that may not yet have shown on an MOT. Tyres should be inspected for sidewall perishing and cracking from ozone exposure, which is a common finding on vehicles that have stood unused and is not always visible from tread depth alone. The brake discs are likely to exhibit surface corrosion from standing, and the nearside front caliper should be checked for binding as this is a frequent issue on E60 chassis cars that see light use. Coolant, brake fluid, and automatic transmission fluid all degrade on a calendar basis rather than mileage, and given the age of the vehicle, a full fluid service along with verification of recent cam belt or timing chain service, replacement of the 12V battery, and inspection of the condition of the pollen filter and all rubber boots and gaiters would be sensible precautions before purchase.