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R45 BEW

1997 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 May 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

149,759 mi
Last recorded149,759 miles
Recorded on15 May 2026
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

RegistrationR45 BEW
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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 15 May 2026 149,759 miles

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

Fail 15 May 2026 149,759 miles

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 27 May 2025 146,191 miles
Fail 23 May 2025 146,189 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn inner bush, rear most arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault air bag light on (7.1.6 (a))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid BOTH (3.5 (a))

Fail 22 Apr 2025 146,160 miles

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

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

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

Pass 19 Apr 2024 142,976 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2023 142,405 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2023 142,392 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 14 Apr 2022 140,103 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2022 140,103 miles

Emissions not tested due to intial high readings and visable smoke (8.2.1.2 (d))

Pass 14 May 2021 137,650 miles
Pass 15 May 2020 127,082 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2020 126,280 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded BOTH FRONT TO REARS (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 29 Mar 2019 115,862 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2018 105,977 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2017 98,112 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2016 88,776 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2015 78,963 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2014 76,771 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 25 Mar 2013 73,396 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2012 70,519 miles

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

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

Pass 28 Mar 2011 67,441 miles

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

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

cant see inner brake pads

Pass 24 Mar 2010 65,220 miles

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

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

cant see inner pads

Pass 23 Mar 2009 62,489 miles

N/S/R tyre on 3mm

o/s/f tyre wearing on inner edge

Pass 26 Mar 2008 60,046 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2007 57,851 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2006 55,359 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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R45 BEW is a 1997 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 R45 BEW, 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 R45 BEW?

You can check the full history of R45 BEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R45 BEW registered?

R45 BEW is a 1997 BMW 520, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R45 BEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R45 BEW shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R45 BEW 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 R45 BEW. 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.