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L281 VLB

1993 BMW 520

Black Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 Feb 2014
Tests12 (7 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

198,503 mi
Last recorded198,503 miles
Recorded on7 Feb 2014
Typical for 1993 BMW 520119,252 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

RegistrationL281 VLB
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1993
ColourBlack
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

7 pass 5 fail
Fail 7 Feb 2014 198,503 miles

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 Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

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

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

both front to rear brake pipes corroded

exhaust has minor leak of exhaust gases

nearside front tyre worn on inner edge

offside front tyre worn on inner edge

rear brake discs heavily corroded

rear fuel lines/pipes corroded

Pass 15 Feb 2013 190,125 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2012 188,547 miles
Fail 30 Jan 2012 188,546 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

Pass 2 Feb 2011 186,126 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2011 186,126 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Both Rear Brake Disc's are slightly pitted

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

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

Oil leak

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 1 Feb 2010 177,610 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

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

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

front tyres worn on inside (check tracking)

o/s rear subframe bush split

rear number plate cracked

Fail 1 Feb 2010 177,610 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

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

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

front tyres worn on inside (check tracking)

o/s rear subframe bush split

rear number plate cracked

Pass 28 Jan 2009 173,152 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2007 167,074 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2006 158,757 miles
Fail 3 Nov 2006 158,757 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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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L281 VLB is a 1993 BMW 520 in Black with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

Across all 1993 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.6% with a typical mileage of 119,252 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 L281 VLB, 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 33 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 L281 VLB?

You can check the full history of L281 VLB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L281 VLB registered?

L281 VLB is a 1993 BMW 520, first registered on 29 November 1993.

Is L281 VLB safe to buy?

The MOT history for L281 VLB shows 12 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L281 VLB 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 L281 VLB. 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.