CarVerify

Free Car Check

R138 NDF

1997 BMW 520

Green Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Mar 2015
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

164,489 mi
Last recorded164,489 miles
Recorded on14 Mar 2014
Typical for 1997 BMW 520121,946 mi

Above 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

RegistrationR138 NDF
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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 14 Mar 2014 164,489 miles

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is slightly worn (3.1.5)

o/s/f/ and n/s/f/ link has slight play-n/s/f/ tyre low and edges low-rear brake pipes surface rust-

Fail 13 Mar 2014

Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Parking brake is not capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only (3.1.2)

o/s/f/ and n/s/f/ link has slight play-n/s/f/ tyre low and edges low-rear brake pipes surface rust-

Pass 31 May 2013 163,102 miles

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Fail 30 May 2013 163,102 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 8 Nov 2011 155,469 miles

corrosion round jacking points

oil leakage to engine

Fail 31 Oct 2011 155,465 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

corrosion round jacking points

oil leakage to engine

Pass 27 Oct 2010 147,470 miles

airbag light on

brake pad warning light on

Fail 23 Oct 2010 147,470 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

airbag light on

brake pad warning light on

Pass 30 Oct 2009 135,774 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 18 Sep 2008 123,888 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2007 122,211 miles

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

Fail 31 Oct 2007 122,211 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 26 Oct 2006 119,840 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 24 Oct 2006 119,771 miles

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 24 Oct 2005 117,104 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

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

R138 NDF is a 1997 BMW 520 in Green with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 R138 NDF, 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 R138 NDF?

You can check the full history of R138 NDF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R138 NDF registered?

R138 NDF is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 4 November 1997.

Is R138 NDF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R138 NDF shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R138 NDF 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 R138 NDF. 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.