BMW 525I years to avoid
More than twice the 525I's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best BMW 525I years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
BMW 525I complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common BMW 525I problems
All model years combined.
- Airbags157
- Electrical81
- Engine59
- Seats42
- Seat belts42
- Transmission29
- Brakes29
- Lights24
- Steering23
- Body22
- Acceleration15
- Visibility12
BMW 525I problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 95 | 1 | Electrical | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 95 | 1 | Engine | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | 46 | 72 | Airbags | 75,000 | 2 | 3 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 42 | 77 | Airbags | 99,500 | 3 | 0 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 72 | 35 | Airbags | 100,850 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 39 | 84 | Airbags | 89,627 | 0 | 0 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 71 | 32 | Airbags | 45,000 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 75 | 29 | Airbags | 80,000 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 72 | 22 | Engine | 102,000 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1999 | - | 1 | Body | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | - | 2 | Brakes | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | - | 24 | Locks | 112,000 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1994 | - | 7 | Engine | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1993 | - | 5 | Engine | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | - | 18 | Engine | 103,000 | 4 | 4 | |
| 1991 | - | 13 | Engine | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1990 | - | 11 | Engine | 3 | 1 |
Recalls 16
Questions about the BMW 525I
What years of the BMW 525I should you avoid?
2004, 2006 and 2007. Each has more than twice the BMW 525I's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2004 alone has 84, mostly about airbags and electrical.
What is the best year for a used BMW 525I?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the BMW 525I?
Airbags, with 157 complaints across all years, followed by electrical (81) and engine (59).
How many recalls does the BMW 525I have?
16 recalls between 1990 and 2009. The 2002 model year has the most, with 4.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used BMW 525I?
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