RegVerdict Model Intelligence
BMW 520 reliability
MOT pass rates & common faults·129,410 DVSA tests·2024
Across 129,410 real DVSA MOT tests in 2024, 83% of BMW 520 cars aged 8 to 12 years pass their MOT first time, ahead of the 73% average for all cars of that age. It holds up especially well on body & structure and emissions & leaks.
83%
Strong for its agepass first time (8 to 12 years)
Strong for its age · beats 73% of peers
+9.9 pts
MOT pass rate by age
4 to 7 years
3,445 tests · fleet 85%
88%
8 to 12 years
81,832 tests · fleet 73%
83%
13 years and older
44,133 tests · fleet 61%
71%
Where the 520 fails
Suspension97
Brakes98
Body & structure100
Steering100
Tyres96
Lights & electrics98
Holds up better on body & structure, emissions & leaks, steering.
Share of 8 to 12 years BMW 520 MOTs with no fault in each area; the marker shows the fleet average. OGL v3.0.
How it tends to age
How the BMW 520 tends to age
The MOT areas flagged most often on BMW 520 models 13 years and older. It is the model’s typical pattern across millions of tests, not a forecast for this specific car.
- Lights & electrics · flagged on ~7% of MOTsGrows with age
- Suspension · flagged on ~7% of MOTsGrows with age
- Tyres · flagged on ~5% of MOTs
- Brakes · flagged on ~4% of MOTs
Common questions
Is the BMW 520 reliable?
On 2024 MOT data the BMW 520 holds up well for its age: 83% of examples aged 8 to 12 years pass first time, against a 73% fleet average. That puts it ahead of 73% of similar-age models.
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 520?
First-time MOT pass rates for the BMW 520 in 2024: 4 to 7 years, 88%; 8 to 12 years, 83%; and 13 years and older, 71%. Pass rates fall with age across the whole fleet, so compare each figure with cars of the same age, not with a new car.
What commonly fails on a BMW 520 MOT?
No single area stands out as a recurring weakness for the BMW 520 versus other cars of the same age. Its MOT failures are spread across the usual wear items (tyres, brakes, lamps).
Other BMW models
Check a BMW 520’s full history