CarVerify

Free Car Check

ML51 BWG

2001 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Oct 2026
Tests25 (19 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76%

Mileage

113,945 mi
Last recorded113,945 miles
Recorded on15 Oct 2025
Typical for 2001 BMW 52098,478 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationML51 BWG
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2001
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

19 pass 6 fail
Pass 15 Oct 2025 113,945 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2024 109,689 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2023 99,963 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2022 93,605 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play camber arm ball joint please keep checked (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Sep 2021 89,735 miles

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both pipes corroded to max limit from flexy hoses then going over axle then o/s of fuel tank to front please keep checked or renew (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 1 Sep 2020 83,590 miles

Offside Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp by flasher light please keep checked or repair ? (4.2.3 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both rear from both flexy hoses then going to front corroded to max limit please keep checked or renew (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 16 Sep 2019 79,749 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Sep 2018 75,642 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Sep 2017 72,427 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2017 72,366 miles

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

Pass 31 Aug 2016 67,797 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2016 67,797 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Pass 9 Sep 2015 63,593 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2015 63,590 miles

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

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

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

Pass 25 Sep 2014 59,636 miles

Engine management light on

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

Only just past emmisions test, Lambda reading 1.03, max is 1.03, requires further investigation

Fail 22 Sep 2014 59,635 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Engine management light on

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

Only just past emmisions test, Lambda reading 1.03, max is 1.03, requires further investigation

Pass 1 Oct 2013 56,220 miles

E.M.L. on

Pass 11 Oct 2012 52,665 miles

eml on

Fail 11 Oct 2012 25,665 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

eml on

Pass 26 Jan 2011 52,647 miles

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

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

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

Pass 10 Nov 2009 52,498 miles

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

engine management light on

front and rear brake pads staeting to wear low appox 60% worn

Pass 16 Oct 2008 48,388 miles

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

lower braking performance to nearside rear parking brake

Pass 6 Nov 2007 46,583 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2007 46,583 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 23 Oct 2006 45,326 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

ML51 BWG is a 2001 BMW 520 in Silver with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76%.

Across all 2001 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 98,478 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 ML51 BWG, 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 25 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 ML51 BWG?

You can check the full history of ML51 BWG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ML51 BWG registered?

ML51 BWG is a 2001 BMW 520, first registered on 28 September 2001.

Is ML51 BWG safe to buy?

The MOT history for ML51 BWG shows 25 tests with a 76% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ML51 BWG 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 ML51 BWG. 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.