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BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto car check

Is the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto reliable? We analysed 280 real MOT tests across 127 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 280 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
93.2%
Typical Mileage
25,220mi
Annual Mileage
6,367mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto.

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.7%
2022
94.2%
2021

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,676 mi/yr
Typical
6,367 mi/yr
Average
7,241 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,843 mi/yr

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 72 91.7% 14,213 21,992 33,146
2021 139 94.2% 13,918 27,039 40,728

How Long Does a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Last?

Based on 127 BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.2 years
Median
3.0 years

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
25,220 mi
75th Percentile
37,696 mi
95th Percentile
60,194 mi
Max Recorded
93,530 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2021

94.2% MOT pass rate from 139 tests

Year to avoid
2022

91.7% MOT pass rate from 72 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.2% across 139 tests. The 2022 model year has the lowest pass rate at 91.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto THIS CAR 93.2% 280 25,220 mi — yrs
BMW 3 Series 75.1% 12,840,406 90,743 mi 37 yrs
BMW 118 81.5% 1,923,256 64,042 mi 22 yrs
BMW X5 77% 1,735,343 83,401 mi 25 yrs
Volvo S60 R-design T8 Recharge AWD A 91.6% 323 36,492 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto?

The BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.2% across 280 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre has ply or cords exposed. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto owner drives around 6,367 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto reliable?
Based on 280 MOT tests, the BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto has a 93.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto do per year?
The typical BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto does around 6,367 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 520I SE MHEV Auto is 2021 with a 94.2% pass rate across 139 tests.