Petrol BMW 520: MOT pass rate

73.6% of petrol BMW 520s pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,692 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 108,032.

Petrol against the other BMW 520 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the BMW 520 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 81%, and this petrol version sits 7.1 points below the 80.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol BMW 520 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol BMW 520 had covered 108,032 miles at test, against 119,694 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

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.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol BMW 520

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.7% of tests (4.82x the national rate for this defect)
2. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 1.9% of tests (4.46x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.2% of tests (4.27x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.2% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.5% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.8% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this defect)
7. 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, 2.4% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.8% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.2% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.4% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,754 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 520 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 520's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.37% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol BMW 520

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 6.4% of tests (11.4x the national rate for this defect)
2. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 22.7% of tests (4.08x the national rate for this defect)
3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4.2% of tests (3.81x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 17.7% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.7% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.9% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 22.9% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 25.7% of tests
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 14% of tests
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 13.4% of tests

From 2,754 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 520 tests, 2024.

Other BMW 520 fuel types

• Diesel BMW 520 - 81%

All BMW 520 MOT data · Every model