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HK53 SWJ

2003 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 2171cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Apr 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

127,047 mi
Last recorded127,047 miles
Recorded on21 Apr 2026
Typical for 2003 BMW 52084,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationHK53 SWJ
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,171cc

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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 21 Apr 2026 127,047 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge ON 3MM (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Fail 14 Apr 2026 127,047 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect BOTH (4.1.2 (c))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output BOTH (4.1.4 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge ON 3MM (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Pass 1 Apr 2025 124,539 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

various suspension arm bushes deteriorated

Fail 21 Mar 2025 124,396 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

brake pad wear light illuminated

various suspension arm bushes deteriorated

Pass 12 Feb 2024 109,238 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage at reservoir (2.1.5 (a))

underbody covers fitted

Fail 6 Feb 2024 109,007 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn hub bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn hub bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed on inner edge of tyre (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage at reservoir (2.1.5 (a))

underbody covers fitted

Pass 2 Mar 2023 102,580 miles

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 16 Feb 2023

Main beam tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

Speedometer clearly inoperative (7.8 (b) (ii))

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

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

Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Jul 2019 88,478 miles

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 18 Jul 2019 88,478 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Apr 2018 78,966 miles

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Fail 18 Apr 2018 78,962 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm And tyre valve damaged (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 7 Feb 2017 71,768 miles

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Fail 3 Feb 2017 71,703 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Both sides (2.4.G.2)

Tyre pressure monitoring system warning lamp indicates a fault (4.1.D.4)

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 15 Jan 2016 65,727 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit 225/55/16 (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

child seat fitted in n/s/r could not inspect seat belt

front tyres wearing unevenly wheel alignment at fault

Pass 9 Jan 2015 63,173 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

sill covers fitted

Pass 3 Jan 2014 60,762 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

both front tyres wearing on outer edges

sill covers fitted

Pass 11 Jan 2013 58,526 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

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

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

n/s/f tyre starting to crack showing early signs of partial failure

o/s/f tyre starting to crack showing signs of early partial failure

plastic sill covers fitted restricting view of sills during test

Pass 5 Jan 2012 56,746 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

nearside front jacking point rubber block missing

plastic sillguards fitted

Pass 7 Dec 2010 52,253 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2009 45,901 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2008 40,063 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2007 34,685 miles
Fail 4 Dec 2007 34,685 miles

Centre Upper Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Pass 18 Dec 2006 31,256 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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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.

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HK53 SWJ is a 2003 BMW 520 in Silver with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

Across all 2003 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.5% with a typical mileage of 84,985 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 HK53 SWJ, 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 23 years old, this BMW 520 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of HK53 SWJ?

You can check the full history of HK53 SWJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HK53 SWJ registered?

HK53 SWJ is a 2003 BMW 520, first registered on 17 December 2003.

Is HK53 SWJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for HK53 SWJ shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HK53 SWJ 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 HK53 SWJ. 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.