BMW 520d SE (2009)

What to check before buying a 2009 BMW 520d SE

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

• 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
• 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
• 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
• 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a BMW 520d SE

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 BMW 520d SE vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

Half of all 2009 BMW 520d SE vehicles fall between 115,786 and 167,444 miles.

2009 BMW 520d SE — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (40% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.

MOT History Averages

Found a specific BMW 520d SE?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.