Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1985 BMW 520?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1985 BMW 520?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1985 BMW 520?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1985 BMW 520 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 179 vehicles, the 1985 BMW 520 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1985 BMW 520?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1985 BMW 520 are: Oil leak (26.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (17.6% of vehicles), Fuel pipe/s corroded (16.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1985 BMW 520?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 520 (1985)

179 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.5% first-time pass rate

1985 BMW 520

CarHunch analysed 179 real MOT records for the 1985 BMW 520. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1985 BMW 520 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

68.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.87

Over 5.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

117k

Middle half: 91k–144k

For context

These stats describe 179 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 179 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 26.7%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 17.6%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 14.3%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 13.2%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Exhaust & emissions 10.3%

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1985.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 179 BMW 520 cars.

Before you buy a 1985 BMW 520

Based on MOT data from 179 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 1985 BMW 520 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

117,192

typical

90,877

low mileage

144,243

high mileage

Half of all 1985 BMW 520 vehicles fall between 90,877 and 144,243 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 90,877 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 90,877–144,243 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1985 BMW 520s sit.

⚠ Over 194,728 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1985 BMW 520 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 38% of 1985 BMW 520s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (38% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.87

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 520: All 520 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1983 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 1985 BMW 520 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on