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N397 EFM

1996 BMW 520

Red Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 Feb 2020
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

132,156 mi
Last recorded132,156 miles
Recorded on8 Feb 2019
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationN397 EFM
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1996
ColourRed
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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 8 Feb 2019 132,156 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Fail 1 Feb 2019 131,997 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases silencer split (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Front Prop shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated (6.1.7 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Coil spring insecure not locating after jacking (5.3.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded 3 way valve to brake hose (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Coil spring insecure not locating after jacking (5.3.1 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material corroding - advise replacement (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn suspension link rod worn - advise replacement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

front to rear fuel lines corroded

Pass 1 Dec 2017 128,118 miles

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit offside & nearside inner edges devoid of tread (4.1.E.1)

Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive offside & nearside front to rear sill lips (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Lower both fuel pipes are slightly rusting

Outer Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint offside & nearside, lower front joints, of the two joints each side, also rubber boots of these joints are slightly deteriorating (2.5.B.1a)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear pipes nearside, then as pipes run over the rear suspension, to flexi hoses on both suspension arms (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 9 Nov 2016 124,460 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has slight movement at a suspension ball joint (2.5.A.1c)

rear brake pipes heavily wax oiled unable to inspect

Pass 2 Dec 2015 120,319 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases in put side of exhaust box (7.1.2)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded offside & nearside as pipes join to hoses in wheel arches (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Lower Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Lower front to rear petrol pipes are slightly rusty

Nearside Rear Lower Brake pipe slightly corroded as pipe joins & exit rear hose & along suspension arm (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 2 Dec 2015 120,319 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases in put side of exhaust box (7.1.2)

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

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded offside & nearside as pipes join to hoses in wheel arches (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Lower Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Lower front to rear petrol pipes are slightly rusty

Nearside Rear Lower Brake pipe slightly corroded as pipe joins & exit rear hose & along suspension arm (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 3 Dec 2014 118,243 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

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

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

the nearside front to rear wheel bearing is dry sounding but has no play & not rough when rotated

Pass 2 Oct 2013 113,009 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

the nearside wiper blade is slightly deteriorated

Fail 15 Oct 2012 107,552 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

all discs rusty due to car standing

Pass 15 Oct 2012 107,552 miles

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

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

all discs rusty due to car standing

Fail 18 Sep 2012 107,550 miles

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

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

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front front brake juddering severely (3.7.A.2b)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

Nearside Rear 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)

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

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

all front to rear metal fuel pipes very corroded.

Pass 26 Jan 2011 107,539 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2011 107,539 miles

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

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

Pass 27 Jan 2010 107,186 miles
Fail 22 Jan 2010 107,186 miles

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

Rear Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

Pass 23 Jan 2009 106,140 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2009 106,140 miles

Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

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)

Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Pass 4 Jan 2008 105,210 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

rear number plate starting to deteriorate

Pass 20 Jun 2006 96,681 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

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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.

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N397 EFM is a 1996 BMW 520 in Red with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

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 N397 EFM, 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 N397 EFM?

You can check the full history of N397 EFM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N397 EFM registered?

N397 EFM is a 1996 BMW 520, first registered on 1 February 1996.

Is N397 EFM safe to buy?

The MOT history for N397 EFM shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N397 EFM 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 N397 EFM. 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.