CarVerify

Free Car Check

N197 CKE

1996 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Dec 2014
Tests11 (6 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate54.5%

Mileage

88,055 mi
Last recorded88,055 miles
Recorded on4 Dec 2013
Typical for 1996 BMW 520126,144 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationN197 CKE
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1996
ColourSilver
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

6 pass 5 fail
Pass 4 Dec 2013 88,055 miles

Front brake pads and discs poor condition

Rear brake pads worn

Slight play nearside front lower track control arm inner bush

225/55 x 16

Fail 12 Nov 2013 88,052 miles

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

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

225/55 x 16

Brake pad worn, all round

Front brake discs worn

Play in nearside front track control arm inner bush

Fail 1 Sep 2011 88,051 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) DANGEROUS

N/s/rear seat belt stork cover damaged

N/s/rear tyre worn on inner edge

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Washers part blocked

Pass 24 Feb 2010 86,507 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2010 86,505 miles

Centre Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 24 Feb 2009 143,034 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2009 143,032 miles

Centre Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 29 Feb 2008 140,438 miles

slight play in steering

Fail 20 Feb 2008 140,292 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

slight play in steering

Pass 21 Feb 2007 132,013 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2006 117,814 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

N197 CKE is a 1996 BMW 520 in Silver with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.5%.

Across all 1996 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 126,144 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 N197 CKE, 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 30 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 N197 CKE?

You can check the full history of N197 CKE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N197 CKE registered?

N197 CKE is a 1996 BMW 520, first registered on 15 March 1996.

Is N197 CKE safe to buy?

The MOT history for N197 CKE shows 11 tests with a 54.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N197 CKE 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 N197 CKE. 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.