Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 BMW 520 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 196 vehicles, the 2018 BMW 520 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 BMW 520?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 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 2018 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 (2018)

196 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.6% first-time pass rate

2018 BMW 520

CarHunch analysed 196 real MOT records for the 2018 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 Compare Models

The 2018 BMW 520 passes its MOT first time at 90.2%, a solid 10 percentage points above the UK average, suggesting these cars are well-maintained overall—though 14.8% have experienced dangerous defects at some point, which is worth investigating during a pre-purchase inspection. Diesel variants (88.8% pass rate) perform slightly below the petrol average, so fuel type is a minor consideration.

At around 50,000 miles for a six-year-old car, these 520s show typical mileage wear, and while failures average just 0.57 per vehicle, the 3.8 advisories per car suggest preventative maintenance items are piling up. Check the service history carefully and budget for upcoming work on suspension and brake components—common advisory items on this generation—before committing to purchase.

We have limited data for the 2018 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

90.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

14.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.57

Over 5.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 38k–67k

For context

These stats describe 196 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 196 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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 196 BMW 520 cars.

Before you buy a 2018 BMW 520

Based on MOT data from 196 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.8% 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 (75%)	147	89.4%	0.65

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 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.

50,399

typical

38,098

low mileage

66,754

high mileage

Half of all 2018 BMW 520 vehicles fall between 38,098 and 66,754 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,098 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.

✓ 38,098–66,754 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 BMW 520s sit.

⚠ Over 90,117 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 BMW 520 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 BMW 520s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 168 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.57

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 BMW 520 stacks up against a rival.

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