Bmw 520 vs Bmw 90s: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 520
78%
MOT pass rate · 156,398 vehicles
Bmw 90s
94%
MOT pass rate · 8 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 520 (78%) and Bmw 90s (94%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 520 | Bmw 90s |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 94% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 6% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.6 | 0.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 134,460 mi | 66,473 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 156,398 | 8 |
Most common faults
Bmw 520
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Bmw 90s
- Horn not working (1.7.3a)
- Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion (2.3.3)
- Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion (2.3.3)
- Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d)
- Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim. (4.2.2)
- Headlamp main beam warning lamp not working
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 520 (78%) and Bmw 90s (94%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 520 report Full Bmw 90s 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.