What year BMW 520 is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2019 BMW 520 has the highest pass rate at 90.7%, out of 125 vehicles tested.

What are the most common BMW 520 MOT failures?

The most common BMW 520 MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 520 — Reliability by Year

150,282 vehicles · MOT data 1980–2019 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 520 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

✓

Best pass rate year

2019

90.7% pass rate · 125 vehicles

⚠

Lowest pass rate year

1981

65.6% pass rate · 684 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2019	90.7%	43,001 mi	125
2018	90.6%	46,414 mi	196
2017	89.4%	58,348 mi	1,571
2016	89.6%	61,547 mi	13,240
2015	88.8%	69,938 mi	13,929
2014	87.3%	78,245 mi	13,916
2013	85.5%	82,928 mi	8,122
2012	82.3%	87,425 mi	8,648
2011	81.7%	96,979 mi	12,831
2010	80.7%	97,485 mi	7,432
2009	80.4%	99,311 mi	7,430
2008	80.1%	103,338 mi	8,566
2007	77.9%	108,557 mi	7,863
2006	76.0%	111,472 mi	6,132
2005	75.9%	109,802 mi	2,225
2004	78.5%	81,894 mi	1,496
2003	76.6%	84,330 mi	2,240
2002	75.2%	93,018 mi	2,159
2001	74.0%	100,048 mi	2,622
2000	70.9%	112,290 mi	2,432
1999	68.7%	120,248 mi	2,883
1998	68.0%	122,221 mi	3,273
1997	67.8%	125,028 mi	2,390
1996	67.9%	128,075 mi	1,743
1995	69.4%	129,407 mi	2,566
1994	67.2%	132,382 mi	2,248
1993	68.2%	122,942 mi	1,916
1992	67.9%	137,343 mi	2,163
1991	68.6%	142,618 mi	1,725
1990	69.4%	138,606 mi	1,582
1989	66.8%	142,812 mi	1,381
1988	68.6%	137,294 mi	735
1987	66.5%	128,123 mi	419
1986	68.4%	124,016 mi	260
1985	68.5%	117,192 mi	179
1983	66.5%	101,162 mi	105
1981	65.6%	99,064 mi	684
1980	85.3%	66,896 mi	855

Which year BMW 520 is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 43,001 miles (newest year) to 142,812 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 520.

See the buying guide →

← All BMW models

Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.