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R139 SLY

1997 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Apr 2015
Tests18 (9 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

283,913 mi
Last recorded283,913 miles
Recorded on23 Mar 2014
Typical for 1997 BMW 520121,946 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR139 SLY
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

9 pass 9 fail
Pass 23 Mar 2014 283,913 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2014 283,913 miles

Driver's airbag obviously defective (5.4.1)

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

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

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

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

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

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 11 Mar 2013 270,296 miles

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

air bag light on

Fail 8 Mar 2013 270,265 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

air bag light on

Pass 30 Mar 2012 256,188 miles

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

slight movement in n/s/r wheel rose joint

slight movement in o/s/f anti roll bar link rod

slightwheel rim buckle n/s/r

Fail 24 Mar 2012 255,944 miles

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber casing corroded externally so the unit does not function (2.7.2a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

slight movement in n/s/r wheel rose joint

slight movement in o/s/f anti roll bar link rod

slightwheel rim buckle n/s/r

Pass 12 Mar 2011 236,166 miles

front grill missing

Propshaft component defective

Fail 6 Mar 2011 236,166 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

front grill missing

Propshaft component defective

Pass 30 Mar 2010 216,279 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2010 215,636 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Stop lamp excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

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

Pass 1 Apr 2009 187,448 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2009 187,300 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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

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

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

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

airbag & traction control warning lamps on

Pass 5 Apr 2008 164,759 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2008 164,759 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 18 Sep 2007 153,498 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2007 153,498 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

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

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

Pass 19 Sep 2006 133,988 miles
Fail 16 Sep 2006 133,988 miles

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

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

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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R139 SLY is a 1997 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 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 R139 SLY, 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 R139 SLY?

You can check the full history of R139 SLY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R139 SLY registered?

R139 SLY is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 26 September 1997.

Is R139 SLY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R139 SLY shows 18 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 R139 SLY 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 R139 SLY. 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.