Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 BMW 520 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 2016 BMW 520 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,240 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 520 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 520?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 520 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.3% 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 2016 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 (2016)

13,240 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.6% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 520

CarHunch analysed 13,240 real MOT records for the 2016 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? →

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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 2016 BMW 520 diesel passes its MOT first time in 89.6% of cases, well ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is genuinely reassuring—though a significant concern is that 33.1% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting electrical or brake issues are lurking in this model. Petrol versions perform marginally better at 91.4%, but the diesel-dominated cohort (13,130 of 13,240) tells you this is fundamentally a diesel buyer's car.

At 61,737 miles median for an 8-year-old car, these 520s are running relatively lightly, which explains the low failure rate of 0.89 per vehicle. The real tell is the 6.1 advisories per car—things like suspension wear, fluid leaks, and brake pad thinning that won't stop you driving but do accumulate—so budget for preventative maintenance and have any 520 you're considering inspected by a BMW specialist before purchase.

The 2016 BMW 520 has a decent first-time pass rate (89.6%), 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

89.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

33.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.89

Over 7.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

62k

Middle half: 46k–81k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.1 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 13,240 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 13,240 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 46.7%

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

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

Brake wear 24.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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.

Other issues 12.2%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,240 BMW 520 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 520

Based on MOT data from 13,240 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.1% 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 (99%)	13,130	89.6%	0.89
Petrol (1%)	109	91.4%	0.71

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 2016 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.

61,737

typical

46,220

low mileage

81,219

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 520 vehicles fall between 46,220 and 81,219 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 46,220 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.

✓ 46,220–81,219 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 520s sit.

⚠ Over 109,645 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 520 — Still on the Road

Most 2016 BMW 520s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 11,279 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.89

Avg failures per vehicle

6.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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Watch for defects — worth knowing