CarVerify

Free Car Check

M196 ALB

1994 BMW 520

Grey Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Aug 2023
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

185,792 mi
Last recorded185,792 miles
Recorded on29 Jul 2022
Typical for 1994 BMW 520129,120 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

RegistrationM196 ALB
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1994
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,991cc

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 9 fail
Pass 29 Jul 2022 185,792 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 29 Jul 2022 185,792 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 2 Aug 2021 182,004 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Aug 2020 178,746 miles

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

Pass 27 Jul 2019 174,487 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2018 169,117 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2017 162,972 miles

Rear fuel lines corroded

Pass 12 Aug 2016 154,643 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2016 154,486 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Inner Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Fail 5 Aug 2015 147,580 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 5 Aug 2015 147,580 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2014 141,156 miles

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

front and rear tyres worn on edges

fuel pipes corroded

Fail 4 Aug 2014 141,153 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

front and rear tyres worn on edges

fuel pipes corroded

Pass 23 Jul 2013 134,788 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nail in offside front tyre

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 22 Jul 2013 134,788 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nail in offside front tyre

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 24 Jul 2012 131,453 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)

Offside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)

all brake discs corroded

rear number plate slightly detiorated

various bushes cracked

Fail 20 Jul 2012 131,453 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)

Offside rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)

all brake discs corroded

inner door handle missing (door opens from inside)

rear number plate slightly detiorated

various bushes cracked

Pass 2 Aug 2011 127,722 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 2 Aug 2011 127,722 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 9 Aug 2010 120,945 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2010 120,945 miles

Centre Front Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 10 Jul 2009 116,011 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

fuel pipes corroded

nearside mirror cracked

rear subframe bushes slight seperation

slight play in steering colume

Fail 6 Jul 2009 115,929 miles

Centre Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

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

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

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

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

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

fuel pipes corroded

slight play in steering colume

Pass 29 Jul 2008 113,429 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2007 110,856 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2006 107,684 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

M196 ALB is a 1994 BMW 520 in Grey with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

Across all 1994 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 129,120 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 M196 ALB, 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 32 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 M196 ALB?

You can check the full history of M196 ALB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M196 ALB registered?

M196 ALB is a 1994 BMW 520, first registered on 24 August 1994.

Is M196 ALB safe to buy?

The MOT history for M196 ALB shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M196 ALB 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 M196 ALB. 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.