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P778 PLP

1997 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Mar 2013
Tests14 (7 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

172,776 mi
Last recorded172,776 miles
Recorded on26 Mar 2012
Typical for 1997 BMW 520121,946 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP778 PLP
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1997
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

7 pass 7 fail
Pass 26 Mar 2012 172,776 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 6 Mar 2012 172,750 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Front Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

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

Offside Front Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

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

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

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

air bag warning light on

Fail 20 Jan 2012 172,435 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 20 Jan 2012 172,435 miles

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

Pass 26 Feb 2011 164,313 miles

Airbag light illuminated

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

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

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 2 Feb 2011 163,533 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Airbag light Illuminated

Brake pad warning lamp Illuminated

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

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Fail 31 Jan 2011 163,499 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Centre Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

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

Offside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside 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)

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

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

airbag light on

n/s/r tyre worn on inner edge

power steering noisy

Pass 29 Jan 2010 149,800 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2010 149,800 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 18 Nov 2008 137,177 miles
Fail 3 Nov 2008 137,171 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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

Coolant leak

Pass 20 Aug 2007 128,417 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2007 128,416 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

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

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

Pass 17 Aug 2006 118,921 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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P778 PLP is a 1997 BMW 520 in Silver with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 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 P778 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 P778 PLP?

You can check the full history of P778 PLP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P778 PLP registered?

P778 PLP is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 20 March 1997.

Is P778 PLP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P778 PLP shows 14 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 P778 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 P778 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.