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MOT reliability

Bmw 520

156,398 vehicles · 1,658,134 completed MOT tests analysed
78%
MOT pass rate

Based on 156,398 Bmw 520 vehicles and 1,658,134 completed MOT tests, the Bmw 520 has an overall 78% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 134,460 miles.

156,398
Vehicles
1,658,134
MOT tests
9,825
Avg miles / year
1.6
Faults per test
3%
Dangerous-fault share

Bmw 520 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Bmw 520 MOT tests:

  • Other64%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension24%
  • Brakes13%
  • Lamps & electrical4%
  • Emissions & nuisance3%
  • Visibility3%
  • Steering2%
  • Seatbelts & equipment1%

Bmw 520 pass rate by age

How the Bmw 520's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
169393%
26,58490%
3142,41485%
4135,52285%
5133,52584%
6135,28883%
7138,38881%
8140,53980%
9139,37879%
10129,67477%
11113,74276%
1296,53374%
1380,63472%
1467,72972%
1553,63670%
1641,20069%
1730,51169%
1821,41768%
1914,40667%
209,31468%

Fuel types: Diesel (113,534), Petrol (42,735), LPG (90), Electric Diesel (20), Electric (6), Other (6), Gas Bi-Fuel (3), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (3)

Most common Bmw 520 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw 520 MOT tests:

  1. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (53,593 times)
  2. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (53,367 times)
  3. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (52,225 times)
  4. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (51,270 times)
  5. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (40,613 times)
  6. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (32,533 times)
  7. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (31,464 times)
  8. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (30,945 times)
  9. Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (30,728 times)
  10. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (29,200 times)
  11. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (27,731 times)
  12. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (25,755 times)
  13. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (22,605 times)
  14. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (22,314 times)
  15. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g) (21,644 times)

Bmw 520 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2023 8 9 89% 45,465
2022 15 27 85% 53,171
2021 16 43 81% 40,773
2020 63 226 89% 51,374
2019 129 622 90% 69,453
2018 204 1,105 89% 71,295
2017 1,601 11,808 88% 92,950
2016 13,504 106,185 88% 96,584
2015 14,198 125,440 87% 109,316
2014 14,186 137,941 86% 119,656
2013 8,319 88,794 84% 126,329
2012 8,872 106,627 80% 135,630
2011 13,144 156,923 80% 143,667
2010 7,566 96,397 79% 145,035
2009 7,602 105,258 79% 149,315
2008 8,681 109,187 78% 148,887
2007 7,951 120,987 76% 167,021
2006 6,186 96,342 74% 167,937
2005 2,234 33,712 74% 164,982
2004 1,499 20,735 76% 123,320
2003 2,254 35,045 74% 127,230
2002 2,161 34,137 74% 132,273
2001 2,621 35,891 73% 135,350
2000 2,432 32,207 69% 143,052
1999 2,882 36,303 67% 148,453
1998 3,271 35,524 66% 148,979
1997 2,395 23,203 66% 148,752
1996 1,749 15,524 66% 146,779
1995 2,571 21,067 67% 146,008
1994 2,249 16,402 66% 148,285
1993 1,916 12,495 66% 133,465
1992 2,160 11,730 66% 145,902
1991 1,707 8,259 67% 150,042
1990 1,566 6,333 68% 145,861
1989 1,365 5,692 66% 148,759
1988 712 3,368 67% 144,460
1987 404 2,469 68% 139,740
1986 248 1,522 68% 136,763
1985 155 1,058 68% 126,713
1984 76 487 69% 124,109
1983 75 391 70% 114,293
1982 58 280 65% 112,821
1981 10 45 64% 88,259
1980 5 15 73% 66,566
1979 17 123 78% 88,366
1978 9 75 69% 67,926
1977 3 6 67% 37,485
1976 2 7 43% 67,758
1975 4 24 58% 63,489
1974 2 3 0% 163,240
1973 2 2 100% 28,716
1972 1 1 100% 74,918
1971 11 76 70% 131,871
1970 1 1 100% 90,007

Bmw 520 reliability FAQ

Across 156,398 Bmw 520 vehicles in our MOT data, 78% pass the MOT (a 22% failure rate), with about 1.6 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Bmw 520 MOT issues are: 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)).

The typical Bmw 520 in our data has covered around 134,460 miles.

Compare the Bmw 520

See how the Bmw 520 stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:

520 vs 3 series 520 vs 118 520 vs 316 520 vs 116

Check a specific Bmw 520

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Bmw models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks