Diesel BMW 520: MOT pass rate
81% of diesel BMW 520s pass the MOT first time, measured across 74,207 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 119,694.
Diesel against the other BMW 520 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 81% | 74,207 |
| Petrol | 73.6% | 2,692 |
| All BMW 520 | 80.7% | 76,919 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the BMW 520 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 81%, and this diesel version sits 0.3 points above the 80.7% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel BMW 520 had covered 119,694 miles at test, against 108,032 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 520 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other BMW 520 fuel types
- Petrol BMW 520 - 73.6%