BMW 520d — MOT pass rate & failures
482,527 MOT tests on the BMW 520d (1997–2024) give an 84.0% pass rate. That tracks the BMW 5 Series range as a whole almost exactly. Failures concentrate in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 18,550 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.8% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 42 | 69.0% | 30.9% |
| 2003 | 80 | 71.3% | 28.7% |
| 2004 | 106 | 74.5% | 25.5% |
| 2005 | 3,910 | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| 2006 | 15,142 | 75.6% | 24.4% |
| 2007 | 22,321 | 76.6% | 23.4% |
| 2008 | 20,173 | 79.4% | 20.6% |
| 2009 | 26,780 | 79.7% | 20.3% |
| 2010 | 27,478 | 79.5% | 20.4% |
| 2011 | 49,845 | 80.2% | 19.8% |
| 2012 | 40,008 | 80.3% | 19.7% |
| 2013 | 39,320 | 83.9% | 16.1% |
| 2014 | 67,306 | 86.3% | 13.7% |
| 2015 | 69,176 | 88.1% | 11.9% |
| 2016 | 67,589 | 89.2% | 10.8% |
| 2017 | 8,225 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2018 | 735 | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 2019 | 2,595 | 90.8% | 9.2% |
| 2020 | 13,238 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2021 | 4,978 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 3,329 | 89.5% | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 116 | 94.8% | 5.2% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 30,313 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.7% | 27,274 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 25,553 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 15,085 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 14,199 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 5,942 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 5,241 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 4,894 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 18,550 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 13,905 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10,914 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 8,407 |
| 5 | Wipers | 7,672 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 7,543 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.5% | 118,076 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 90,541 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 57,927 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 39,554 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 22,617 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 22,069 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 14,807 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 65,813 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 103,674 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 109,945 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 90,087 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 98,108 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100,712 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 98,318 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 98,179 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 94,358 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 90,960 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a BMW 520d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (6.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (5.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 520d at MOT time?
84.0% of the 482,527 BMW 520d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate, in line with the 15.7% average across all 5 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 520d?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by suspension (5.7%).
Does the 520d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 482,527 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.