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P201 RFA

1997 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Feb 2022
Tests16 (15 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate93.8%

Mileage

187,681 mi
Last recorded187,681 miles
Recorded on5 Feb 2021
Typical for 1997 BMW 520121,946 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP201 RFA
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

15 pass 1 fail
Pass 5 Feb 2021 187,681 miles

Front Inner Track rod end ball joint has slight play both (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 1 Apr 2019 164,165 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel rack end (2.3 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel rack end (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Apr 2018 153,030 miles

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

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

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

Fail 6 Apr 2018 153,017 miles

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

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

Pass 13 May 2017 145,360 miles
Pass 14 May 2016 132,388 miles
Pass 16 May 2015 118,820 miles
Pass 10 May 2014 111,905 miles
Pass 10 May 2013 96,134 miles
Pass 11 May 2012 83,471 miles
Pass 6 May 2011 71,439 miles
Pass 15 May 2010 62,580 miles
Pass 16 May 2009 56,686 miles
Pass 10 May 2008 51,853 miles
Pass 12 May 2007 45,980 miles
Pass 16 May 2006 39,580 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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P201 RFA is a 1997 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 93.8%.

Across all 1997 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.6% with a typical mileage of 121,946 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 P201 RFA, 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 29 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 P201 RFA?

You can check the full history of P201 RFA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P201 RFA registered?

P201 RFA is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 17 May 1997.

Is P201 RFA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P201 RFA shows 16 tests with a 93.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P201 RFA 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 P201 RFA. 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.