BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 571 individual BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Autos 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 520i M Sport Mhev Auto tested had covered 27,825 miles and was built around 2021.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto sits 13.8 points above the national average, ranked 629 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 520i M Sport Mhev Auto 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 520i M Sport Mhev Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.7% of tests (2.38x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.1% of tests
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.9% of tests
4. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.5% of tests (2.71x the national rate for this defect)
5. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.5% of tests (8.93x the national rate for this defect)
6. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.4% of tests
7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.4% of tests
8. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.2% of tests
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
10. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.2% of tests

From 571 DVSA-tracked BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 13.18% of these flagged BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto

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 520i M Sport Mhev Auto before it actually fails on it.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 21.9% of tests, also fails
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 12.3% of tests, also fails
3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.2% of tests
4. A transmission shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated, 0.5% of tests (8.24x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 0.5% of tests
6. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 0.4% of tests
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.2% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.2% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 0.2% of tests
10. A transmission shaft bearing excessively worn, 0.2% of tests (3.71x the national rate for this advisory)

From 571 DVSA-tracked BMW 520i M Sport Mhev Auto tests, 2024.

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Vauxhall Crossland X Business Ed Nav T - 90.5%
• Ford Mustang Mach-E Std Range Rwd - 90.5%
• BMW 220i Sport Auto - 90.5%
• Mercedes-Benz Cla 220 Amg Line D Auto - 90.5%
• Audi A1 Technik 25 Tfsi - 90.4%
• SEAT Leon Se Dynamic Tsi Evo - 90.4%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate