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R162 NKB

1997 BMW 520

Red Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Dec 2026
Tests32 (21 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate65.6%

Mileage

147,877 mi
Last recorded147,877 miles
Recorded on5 Dec 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR162 NKB
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1997
ColourRed
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

21 pass 11 fail
Pass 5 Dec 2025 147,877 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 5 Dec 2025 147,877 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 6 Oct 2025 147,875 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component rack (2.1.5 (a))

undertrays fitted at time of test covering testable items

Pass 1 Nov 2024 144,402 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 31 Oct 2023 137,207 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 26 Oct 2022 127,601 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 29 Oct 2021 121,006 miles
Pass 30 Oct 2020 116,224 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2019 110,950 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2018 98,841 miles

Nearside Front Jacking point missing.

Fail 30 Oct 2018 98,840 miles

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Inner tie rod. (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated Chalked. (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Jacking point missing.

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated Chalked. (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 2 Nov 2017 87,465 miles

Alternator and Power steering belt cracked and worn

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

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

Fail 2 Nov 2017 87,465 miles

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

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

Alternator and Power steering belt cracked and worn

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

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

Pass 20 Oct 2016 78,885 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit on inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Pass 20 Oct 2015 76,039 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2015 75,998 miles

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)

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 Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 17 Oct 2014 72,748 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 9 Oct 2014 72,708 miles

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 28 Oct 2013 69,154 miles

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 16 Oct 2013 69,073 miles

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 19 Oct 2012 65,553 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 17 Oct 2012 65,524 miles

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 10 Oct 2011 61,931 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2010 58,032 miles
Fail 25 Oct 2010 58,030 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 13 Oct 2009 51,882 miles

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

Pass 28 Oct 2008 46,690 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2007 42,274 miles
Fail 29 Oct 2007 42,274 miles

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

Pass 26 Oct 2006 37,812 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2005 32,560 miles

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

Fail 17 Oct 2005 32,365 miles

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

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

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (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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R162 NKB is a 1997 BMW 520 in Red with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.6%.

Across all 1997 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.6% with a typical mileage of 121,946 miles. This vehicle is performing in line with others of the same year.

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 R162 NKB, 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 R162 NKB?

You can check the full history of R162 NKB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R162 NKB registered?

R162 NKB is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 4 November 1997.

Is R162 NKB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R162 NKB shows 32 tests with a 65.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R162 NKB 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 R162 NKB. 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.