BMW 520 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 520. Check any 520 by registration number below.

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76.2%

Avg Pass Rate

-13.7%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

BMW 520 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 520 has an average MOT pass rate of 76.2%, which is 13.7 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your 520 on the road.

The most common reasons a BMW 520 fails its MOT are vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. If you are preparing your 520 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used BMW 520, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 520 performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 57 vehicles

96.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

7.0%

Mileage at 3yr

36k mi

2020

Based on 182 vehicles

90.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

13.3%

Mileage at 3yr

46k mi

Mileage at 5yr

89k mi

2019

Based on 356 vehicles

92.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

7.4%

Mileage at 3yr

52k mi

Mileage at 5yr

88k mi

2018

Based on 520 vehicles

89.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

14.6%

Mileage at 5yr

79k mi

2017

Based on 4,205 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

11.5%

Mileage at 5yr

107k mi

2016

Based on 31,794 vehicles

88.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

11.3%

2015

Based on 32,413 vehicles

87.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

12.4%

Mileage at 10yr

180k mi

2014

Based on 31,358 vehicles

85.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

14.1%

Mileage at 10yr

179k mi

2013

Based on 18,430 vehicles

82.7%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

16.2%

Mileage at 10yr

180k mi

2012

Based on 18,226 vehicles

79.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

19.8%

Mileage at 10yr

185k mi

2011

Based on 21,459 vehicles

78.2%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

21.2%

2010

Based on 11,639 vehicles

77.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

21.7%

2009

Based on 10,985 vehicles

75.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.6%

Retest Rate

22.4%

2008

Based on 7,812 vehicles

75.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

23.5%

2007

Based on 8,737 vehicles

72.4%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.7%

Retest Rate

26.4%

2006

Based on 5,698 vehicles

70.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.6%

Retest Rate

27.0%

2005

Based on 1,516 vehicles

67.7%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.1%

Retest Rate

27.8%

2004

Based on 726 vehicles

72.9%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.0%

Retest Rate

16.5%

2003

Based on 1,008 vehicles

68.5%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.2%

Retest Rate

28.5%

2002

Based on 807 vehicles

68.0%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

28.3%

2001

Based on 601 vehicles

71.4%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

20.9%

2000

Based on 350 vehicles

70.3%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

21.0%

1999

Based on 460 vehicles

68.5%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

23.1%

1998

Based on 393 vehicles

61.6%Below Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

23.2%

1997

Based on 193 vehicles

65.8%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.5%

Retest Rate

26.2%

1996

Based on 137 vehicles

65.0%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

20.0%

1995

Based on 387 vehicles

71.6%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

20.4%

1994

Based on 237 vehicles

73.4%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

17.5%

1993

Based on 163 vehicles

71.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

17.9%

1992

Based on 98 vehicles

65.3%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

33.8%

1991

Based on 75 vehicles

82.7%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.9%

1990

Based on 40 vehicles

82.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

16.0%

1989

Based on 51 vehicles

66.7%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

27.0%

1988

Based on 82 vehicles

73.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

38.6%

1987

Based on 107 vehicles

81.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

10.0%

1986

Based on 108 vehicles

79.6%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

17.8%

1985

Based on 57 vehicles

70.2%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

11.1%

1984

Based on 47 vehicles

61.7%Below Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

21.2%

0

Based on 97,218 vehicles

82.7%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

114k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 520

The most common reasons a BMW 520 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

7.4%

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

6.9%

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

6.9%

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

5.7%

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

5.1%

BMW 520 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Offside Outer

3.5%

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 520

BMW 520 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 520 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 520?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 520 is 76.2% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 520?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 520 are: Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced (7.4%), Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer (6.9%), The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (6.9%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 520 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 76.2%, the BMW 520 is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 520?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 520?

Typical mileage for the BMW 520: 36,151 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 520 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 520's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.