CarVerify

Free Car Check

P253 ABV

1997 BMW 520

Green Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Mar 2012
Tests8 (5 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

113,014 mi
Last recorded113,014 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 2011
Typical for 1997 BMW 520121,946 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

RegistrationP253 ABV
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

5 pass 3 fail
Pass 18 Mar 2011 113,014 miles
Pass 4 Feb 2010 112,510 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Dec 2008 112,005 miles

AIRBAG LIGHT ON

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Fail 5 Dec 2008 111,993 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken (3.1.5)

Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

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

AIRBAG LIGHT ON

N/S HEADLAMP IMAGE POOR

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Aug 2007 106,805 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2007 106,805 miles

Inner Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

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

Pass 1 Sep 2006 97,082 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2006 97,082 miles

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

slight wear in o/side steering rack mechanism

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

P253 ABV is a 1997 BMW 520 in Green with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 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 P253 ABV, 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 P253 ABV?

You can check the full history of P253 ABV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P253 ABV registered?

P253 ABV is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P253 ABV safe to buy?

The MOT history for P253 ABV shows 8 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P253 ABV 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 P253 ABV. 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.