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EA05 SAM

2012 BMW 520

Grey Diesel 1995cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jan 2027
Tests13 (12 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate92.3%

Mileage

153,876 mi
Last recorded153,876 miles
Recorded on13 Jan 2026
Typical for 2012 BMW 52088,697 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationEA05 SAM
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2012
ColourGrey
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,995cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

12 pass 1 fail
Pass 13 Jan 2026 153,876 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Jan 2025 142,708 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2024 134,890 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Mar 2023 125,511 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted inner rim (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 28 Feb 2023 125,511 miles

Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted inner rim (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 24 Feb 2022 117,883 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted inner rim (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 19 Feb 2021 105,505 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

emission is too clean to test

under tray fitted

Pass 5 Mar 2020 99,573 miles

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front (5.2.3 (e))

under trays fitted

Pass 6 Mar 2019 93,052 miles

Bonnet/ Under trays fitted obscuring some component

Both Rear Tyre's wearing unevenly

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Front & Rear (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Bonnet device/cable not moving smoothly

Pass 1 Mar 2018 82,555 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2017 71,300 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

engine low flow

under trays fitted

Pass 23 Feb 2016 59,419 miles

under trays fitted

Pass 26 Feb 2015 47,939 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 520?

Based on 1,661,806 MOT tests across 152,584 vehicles.

78.5%
Pass Rate
7,968
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
152,584
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,121
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 22,647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,724
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 15,884
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,720
Full BMW 520 reliability report

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EA05 SAM is a 2012 BMW 520 in Grey with a 1,995cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 92.3%.

Across all 2012 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.5% with a typical mileage of 88,697 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 520 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 47,121 recorded failures. If you're considering buying EA05 SAM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 520 typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 14 years old, this BMW 520 is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of EA05 SAM?

You can check the full history of EA05 SAM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was EA05 SAM registered?

EA05 SAM is a 2012 BMW 520, first registered on 2 March 2012.

Is EA05 SAM safe to buy?

The MOT history for EA05 SAM shows 13 tests with a 92.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does EA05 SAM have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on EA05 SAM. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.