CarVerify

Free Car Check

P386 PLP

1997 BMW 520

Grey Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Jul 2011
Tests8 (4 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

99,972 mi
Last recorded99,972 miles
Recorded on5 Jul 2010
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

RegistrationP386 PLP
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1997
ColourGrey
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

4 pass 4 fail
Pass 5 Jul 2010 99,972 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2010 99,916 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 23 Oct 2009 96,847 miles
Fail 20 Oct 2009 96,840 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Front Macpherson strut severely distorted (2.4.G.1)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 17 Oct 2008 91,420 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2008 91,420 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

nearside and offside front tyres close to limit and should be replaced

Pass 10 Oct 2007 73,022 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2007 73,022 miles

Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)

Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1)

Brake pedal has no servo assistance (3.3.B.2)

Front registration plate character(s) sloping (6.3.4b)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Inner Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

slight sweat at power steering pipe at pump.

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

P386 PLP is a 1997 BMW 520 in Grey with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 P386 PLP, 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 P386 PLP?

You can check the full history of P386 PLP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P386 PLP registered?

P386 PLP is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 15 January 1997.

Is P386 PLP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P386 PLP shows 8 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P386 PLP 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 P386 PLP. 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.