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Bmw 5-series 530e vs Bmw 520: reliability comparison

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

Bmw 5-series 530e
79%
MOT pass rate · 1 vehicles
Bmw 520
78%
MOT pass rate · 156,398 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 5-series 530e (79%) 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 5-series 530e Bmw 520
MOT pass rate 79% ✓ 78%
MOT failure rate 21% ✓ 22%
Faults & advisories per test 1.1 ✓ 1.6
Dangerous-fault share 7% 3% ✓
Average mileage 73,198 mi 134,460 mi
Sample size (vehicles) 1 156,398

Most common faults

Bmw 5-series 530e

  1. Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
  2. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  3. Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  5. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
  6. Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both sides (5.2.3 (e))

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 5-series 530e (79%) and Bmw 520 (78%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.

Full Bmw 5-series 530e 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.