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HW03 DCE

2003 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 2171cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Dec 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

122,401 mi
Last recorded122,401 miles
Recorded on15 Dec 2025
Typical for 2003 BMW 52084,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationHW03 DCE
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 15 Dec 2025 122,401 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 15 Dec 2025 122,401 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Dec 2024 121,971 miles
Fail 17 Dec 2024 121,971 miles

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

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Pass 24 Nov 2023 120,416 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Nov 2023 120,416 miles

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

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn LOWER HUB BUSHES (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt TOP REAR ARM (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

Pass 22 Dec 2022 117,492 miles

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

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

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

Fail 22 Dec 2022 117,492 miles

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

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

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

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

Pass 9 Nov 2021 117,071 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2020 116,218 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2020 116,218 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 7 Aug 2019 115,626 miles

engine oil leaks

Fail 7 Aug 2019 115,626 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both torn (3.4 (b) (ii))

engine oil leaks

Pass 17 Aug 2018 113,211 miles

general oil leaks

Fail 25 Jul 2018 113,203 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn rearmost arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

general oil leaks

Pass 5 Apr 2017 102,520 miles

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

n/s handbrake performance, slightly lower than o/s

o/s outer sill panel and o/s/f door slightly dented

under trays fitted, limiting view

Fail 3 Apr 2017 102,509 miles

Nearside Front Inner Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords cut in outer sidewall (4.1.D.1a)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

n/s handbrake performance lower than o/s ,, recommend check

o/s outer sill panel and o/s/f door slightly dented

o/s wiper rubber, perished on end,, recommend replace

under trays fitted, limiting view

Pass 18 Mar 2016 91,655 miles

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

nearside parking brake performance lower than offside, recommend check

Pass 2 Apr 2015 81,384 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

fuel cap seal splitting

Fail 20 Mar 2015 81,028 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) DANGEROUS

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

fuel cap seal splitting

Pass 27 Mar 2014 76,746 miles

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

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

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

Fail 27 Mar 2014 76,746 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 21 Mar 2013 65,923 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2013 65,923 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 14 Mar 2012 56,148 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

nearside parking brake performance lower than offside

Pass 17 Mar 2011 50,458 miles

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

offside rear brake disc slightly worn and scored

Pass 10 Mar 2010 45,090 miles

Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

nearside handbrake performance lower than offside

Pass 23 Mar 2009 40,442 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2008 34,291 miles

Offside Inner Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

splits in offside rear tyre

tyres starting to wear unevenly

Pass 12 Mar 2007 28,735 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2006 22,665 miles

all four tyres split but cords not visible

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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HW03 DCE is a 2003 BMW 520 in Silver with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 HW03 DCE, 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 HW03 DCE?

You can check the full history of HW03 DCE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HW03 DCE registered?

HW03 DCE is a 2003 BMW 520, first registered on 31 March 2003.

Is HW03 DCE safe to buy?

The MOT history for HW03 DCE shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HW03 DCE 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 HW03 DCE. 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.