BMW 520 MOT Pass Rate
83.1% of 35,211 BMW 520 MOT tests pass.
At 83.1%, The 520 passes slightly less often than the average across all BMW models (84.8%).
The BMW 520 has a pass rate of 83.1%, a little higher than the national average for cars (78.3%).
Pass rate by vehicle age
Pass rate declines noticeably with age, from 91.3% at 3–6 years to 73.5% at 15+ years.
| Vehicle age | Pass rate | Tests | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 years | too few tests (8) | 8 | no reading |
| 3–6 years | 91.3% | 115 | 52,720 miles |
| 6–10 years | 88.4% | 12,670 | 96,018 miles |
| 10–15 years | 82.5% | 16,347 | 127,209 miles |
| 15+ years | 73.5% | 6,071 | 152,881 miles |
Common MOT failure reasons for the BMW 520
The most common reason the BMW 520 fails its MOT is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — present in 36.7% of failed tests, most often logged as "not working".
| Category | Share of failed tests | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 36.7% | not working |
| Suspension | 36.1% | fractured or broken |
| Tyres | 34.1% | tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm |
| Brakes | 20.3% | less than 1.5 mm thick |
| Visibility | 13.4% | does not clear the windscreen effectively |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.0% | inoperative or indicates a malfunction |
| Road Wheels | 5.9% | fixing missing |
| Steering | 5.8% | ball joint has excessive play |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.3% | has a major leak of exhaust gases |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.7% | warning lamp indicates a fault |