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R157 KBF

1997 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Jul 2018
Tests19 (11 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate57.9%

Mileage

201,681 mi
Last recorded201,681 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2017
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

RegistrationR157 KBF
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

11 pass 8 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2017 201,681 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2016 186,124 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2015 169,248 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2015 169,244 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Jun 2014 166,982 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2014 166,855 miles

Centre Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 18 Apr 2013 164,181 miles

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

Fail 8 Apr 2013 164,169 miles

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Fail 23 Jan 2013 164,135 miles

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

Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

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

Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 27 Jan 2012 160,507 miles

Fuel pipes rusted to excess on N/S

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Fail 25 Jan 2012 160,507 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Fuel pipes rusted to excess on N/S

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 6 Dec 2010 155,723 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2010 155,709 miles

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

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

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

Pass 10 Sep 2009 146,597 miles

airbag light is on

exhaust baffles noisy

Fail 4 Sep 2009 146,585 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 Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

Pass 5 Sep 2008 141,083 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2008 141,083 miles

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 8 Sep 2007 136,015 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2006 130,048 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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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.

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R157 KBF is a 1997 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.9%.

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 R157 KBF, 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 R157 KBF?

You can check the full history of R157 KBF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R157 KBF registered?

R157 KBF is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 1 September 1997.

Is R157 KBF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R157 KBF shows 19 tests with a 57.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R157 KBF 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 R157 KBF. 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.