CarVerify

Free Car Check

F657 JHJ

1988 BMW 520

Grey Petrol 1990cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires26 Jun 2026
Tests21 (19 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.5%

Mileage

257,636 mi
Last recorded257,636 miles
Recorded on27 Jun 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 520127,324 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationF657 JHJ
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1988
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

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

19 pass 2 fail
Pass 27 Jun 2025 257,636 miles
Pass 20 May 2024 257,636 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2023 257,636 miles

Nearside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected SILL (5.3.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected SILL (5.3.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 2 Mar 2022 257,636 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2021 257,631 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2020 257,606 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Outer Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Outer Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 26 Feb 2020 257,606 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Outer Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Outer Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Feb 2019 257,565 miles

rear exhaust getting weak

Pass 12 Mar 2018 257,469 miles

front tyres getting low on outer edges

Pass 23 Feb 2017 257,381 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2016 257,149 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2015 256,869 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2014 256,495 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2013 256,059 miles

rear exhaust box getting weak

Pass 21 Feb 2012 255,292 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2011 254,989 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2010 254,483 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2009 253,459 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2008 252,468 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2007 251,437 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2006 250,459 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

F657 JHJ is a 1988 BMW 520 in Grey with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.5%.

Across all 1988 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.4% with a typical mileage of 127,324 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 F657 JHJ, 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 38 years old, this BMW 520 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F657 JHJ?

You can check the full history of F657 JHJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F657 JHJ registered?

F657 JHJ is a 1988 BMW 520, first registered on 1 August 1988.

Is F657 JHJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for F657 JHJ shows 21 tests with a 90.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F657 JHJ 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 F657 JHJ. 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.