BMW 520: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 520 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 3.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 77,402 individual BMW 520 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate80.2%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+3.5 points
Tests analysed77,402
Average mileage at test118,365 miles
Average year of manufacture2012
Reliability rank1,434 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 80.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 20 in every 100 BMW 520s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 520 tested had covered 118,365 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 520 sits 3.5 points above the national average, ranked 1,434 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 520 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 520s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 520

  1. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 1% of tests (3.26x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.5% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.2% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
  5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.2% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.5% of tests
  8. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.1% of tests
  9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.7% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.5% of tests

From 77,315 DVSA-tracked BMW 520 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.7% of these flagged BMW 520 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 520

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 520 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.3% of tests (4.08x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.8% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.2% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.9% of tests
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.8% of tests, also fails
  8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.4% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3% of tests, also fails
  10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.9% of tests

From 77,315 DVSA-tracked BMW 520 tests, 2024.

BMW 520 pass rate by model year

From its 2002 to its 2017 model year, the BMW 520's first-time pass rate has risen 21.1 points, from 65.7% to 86.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 520 year:

BMW 520 by fuel type

The BMW 520's two most-tested fuel types split by 7.4 points: diesel passes first time 81% of the time (74,207 tests) against 73.6% for petrol (2,692 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 520 MOT pass rate badge: 80.2%

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BMW 520 most common MOT failure: A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud (1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate