CarVerify

Free Car Check

R455 AAB

1997 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Oct 2026
Tests22 (17 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate77.3%

Mileage

162,256 mi
Last recorded162,256 miles
Recorded on25 Oct 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
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

RegistrationR455 AAB
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

17 pass 5 fail
Pass 25 Oct 2025 162,256 miles

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

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

Pass 1 Aug 2024 153,837 miles

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

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

Pass 16 Mar 2022 153,760 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring worn (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Feb 2021 152,864 miles
Fail 27 Oct 2020 152,857 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Nearside Rear Outer Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 28 Dec 2018 152,593 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2017 152,568 miles

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

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

Pass 8 Sep 2016 152,085 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2015 151,975 miles

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

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

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

Pass 30 Sep 2014 150,866 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2013 149,267 miles

Nearside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 21 Sep 2012 147,730 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2012 147,730 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 Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 23 Sep 2011 145,730 miles
Fail 23 Sep 2011 145,730 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 22 Sep 2010 143,879 miles

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

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

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

front brake discs slightly worn

Fail 21 Sep 2010 143,876 miles

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

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

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

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

front brake discs slightly worn

Pass 14 Sep 2009 140,175 miles

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

Pass 24 Sep 2008 135,457 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2008 135,457 miles

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

rattling noise from offside rear brake drum

Pass 26 Sep 2007 130,142 miles

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

slight noise from the offside rear brake

Pass 25 Oct 2006 123,689 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

R455 AAB is a 1997 BMW 520 in Silver with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.3%.

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 performed better than the average for its 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 R455 AAB, 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 R455 AAB?

You can check the full history of R455 AAB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R455 AAB registered?

R455 AAB is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R455 AAB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R455 AAB shows 22 tests with a 77.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R455 AAB 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 R455 AAB. 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.