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Bmw 135i vs Bmw 520: reliability comparison

MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.

Bmw 135i
88%
MOT pass rate · 11 vehicles
Bmw 520
78%
MOT pass rate · 156,398 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 135i (88%) and Bmw 520 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.

Head to head

Measure Bmw 135i Bmw 520
MOT pass rate 88% ✓ 78%
MOT failure rate 12% ✓ 22%
Faults & advisories per test 1.1 ✓ 1.6
Dangerous-fault share 6% 3% ✓
Average mileage 60,792 mi 134,460 mi
Sample size (vehicles) 11 156,398

Most common faults

Bmw 135i

  1. Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))
  2. Nearside Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Inner edge bald and beginning to split (5.2.3 (e))
  3. Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
  4. Exhaust flexi pipe has slight damage
  5. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  6. Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Windscreen chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Bmw 520

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  3. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  4. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  6. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Reliability FAQ

On MOT pass rate the Bmw 135i (88%) and Bmw 520 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.

Full Bmw 135i report Full Bmw 520 report Most reliable cars

Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.