Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.

How many 2011 BMW 520 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 BMW 520 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,831 vehicles, the 2011 BMW 520 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 BMW 520?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 BMW 520 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (48% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (44.6% 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 2011 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.

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BMW 520 (2011)

12,831 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.7% first-time pass rate

2011 BMW 520

CarHunch analysed 12,831 real MOT records for the 2011 BMW 520. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 BMW 520 diesel passes MOT at 81.7%, marginally above the UK average of 80%, suggesting broadly competent reliability for its age—though nearly 39% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant concern for buyers and warrants a pre-purchase inspection. At around 97,000 miles median mileage, these cars are typical for their age, but the 2.36 average failures per test and notably high 12.7 advisories per vehicle indicate that while catastrophic faults are relatively rare, minor niggles and wear items are common. Buyers should expect to budget for regular maintenance and factor in that you're likely buying a car with accumulated minor issues requiring attention. Have a full diagnostic scan performed before purchase to understand the specific problem areas on any individual example.

The 2011 BMW 520 has a decent first-time pass rate (81.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

81.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.36

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

97k

Middle half: 76k–120k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 12.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 12,831 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 12,831 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 48%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Tyre wear 46.5%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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.

Other issues 42.6%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Suspension & steering 14%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,831 BMW 520 cars.

Before you buy a 2011 BMW 520

Based on MOT data from 12,831 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.8% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	12,786	81.7%	2.36

Colour Breakdown

Based on 153,915 BMW 520 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.6%

39,331

Grey 21.6%

33,230

Blue 16.8%

25,839

Silver 15.7%

24,148

White 11%

16,857

Green 4.1%

6,315

Red 3.5%

5,369

Brown 0.6%

966

Bronze 0.5%

725

Gold 0.4%

549

Beige 0.2%

357

Purple 0.1%

229

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 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.

97,030

typical

76,283

low mileage

120,153

high mileage

Half of all 2011 BMW 520 vehicles fall between 76,283 and 120,153 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 76,283 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.

✓ 76,283–120,153 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 BMW 520s sit.

⚠ Over 162,206 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 BMW 520 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2011 BMW 520s are still active.

6,557 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.

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

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.36

Avg failures per vehicle

12.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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Watch for defects — worth knowing