In 2025, 71,770 BMW 520 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 77% passed first time, compared with 67% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 520 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 10 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 8 years old, 86% of 520s passed first time (all cars that age: 78%). By 20 years, that figure is 63% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 8 to 20 years.
BMW 520 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 520 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 years | 1,455 | 86% | 78% | 88,540 |
| 9 years | 11,898 | 85% | 75% | 97,128 |
| 10 years | 12,097 | 83% | 72% | 109,091 |
| 11 years | 11,311 | 80% | 69% | 119,797 |
| 12 years | 6,462 | 77% | 66% | 124,978 |
| 13 years | 5,996 | 72% | 63% | 132,706 |
| 14 years | 6,817 | 73% | 61% | 142,206 |
| 15 years | 3,660 | 72% | 59% | 143,081 |
| 16 years | 3,411 | 69% | 58% | 147,788 |
| 17 years | 2,213 | 70% | 57% | 156,188 |
| 18 years | 2,423 | 65% | 57% | 164,361 |
| 19 years | 1,542 | 62% | 57% | 171,448 |
| 20 years | 408 | 63% | 58% | 169,201 |
What fails most on a BMW 520
The area that lets the 520 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.6% of tests failed on it, 13.0 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on emissions and leaks and brakes.
Share of 520 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.8% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 3.6% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.0% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.9% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 2.5% |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | Tyres | 2.5% |
What to check when buying a used 520
Based on where the 520 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 520
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 520Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 520?
In 2025, 77% of BMW 520 cars passed their MOT first time, across 71,770 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 67%.
What do BMW 520 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (3.8% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (3.6% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.0% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.