CarVerify

Free Car Check

ML53 GVJ

2003 BMW 520

Grey Petrol 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Oct 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

117,496 mi
Last recorded117,496 miles
Recorded on6 Oct 2025
Typical for 2003 BMW 52084,985 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

RegistrationML53 GVJ
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2003
ColourGrey
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 9 fail
Pass 6 Oct 2025 117,496 miles

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Front Fog light inop

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

Rear Coil spring corroded Both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Oct 2024 115,663 miles

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

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

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

Rear Coil spring corroded Both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Oct 2023 113,467 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded Both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 6 Oct 2022 108,998 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 6 Oct 2022 108,998 miles

Nearside Front Inner Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 13 Oct 2021 106,035 miles

Nearside Front mirror casing slightly damaged.

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 7 Oct 2020 102,658 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 19 Sep 2019 99,913 miles

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 18 Sep 2019 99,912 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 3 Oct 2018 97,380 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2017 94,850 miles

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

slight oil leak

Fail 11 Oct 2017 94,848 miles

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

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

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

slight oil leak

Pass 19 Sep 2016 92,546 miles

Nearside Front Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak ()

Fail 8 Sep 2016 92,508 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (4.1.D.1e)

Nearside Front Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak ()

Pass 24 Sep 2015 89,648 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2-3mm (4.1.E.1)

Slight underbody corrosion

Undertrays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 23 Sep 2015 89,646 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2-3mm (4.1.E.1)

Slight underbody corrosion

Undertrays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 16 Oct 2014 86,551 miles

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

slight underbody corrosion

Pass 12 May 2014 86,527 miles

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

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

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

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

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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

front wiper blades starting to deteriorate

fuel cap seal cracking

sill trims fitted at time of test

slight underbody corrosion

Fail 1 Apr 2014 86,527 miles

Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

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

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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

fuel cap seal cracking

offside rear tyre cracking

sill trims fitted at time of test

slight underbody corrosion

Pass 28 Mar 2013 85,248 miles

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

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

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

offside rear tyre cracking

Fail 28 Mar 2013 85,428 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

offside rear tyre cracking

Pass 8 Dec 2011 80,645 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 25 Nov 2011 80,440 miles

Power steering pump drive system defective (2.3.6)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

air conditioning belt poor condition

Pass 2 Dec 2010 73,095 miles

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

power steering belt cracking

Fail 2 Dec 2010 73,095 miles

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

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

power steering belt cracking

Pass 1 Dec 2009 64,404 miles

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

power steering drivebelt starting to crack

Pass 10 Dec 2008 58,014 miles
Pass 12 Dec 2007 47,040 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)

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

Pass 26 Sep 2006 37,003 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

ML53 GVJ is a 2003 BMW 520 in Grey with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

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 ML53 GVJ, 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 ML53 GVJ?

You can check the full history of ML53 GVJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ML53 GVJ registered?

ML53 GVJ is a 2003 BMW 520, first registered on 26 September 2003.

Is ML53 GVJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for ML53 GVJ shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ML53 GVJ 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 ML53 GVJ. 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.