CarVerify

Free Car Check

R49 FWS

1998 BMW 520

Black Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires23 Jan 2011
Tests9 (5 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

272,259 mi
Last recorded272,259 miles
Recorded on20 Jan 2010
Typical for 1998 BMW 520121,173 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR49 FWS
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1998
ColourBlack
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

5 pass 4 fail
Pass 20 Jan 2010 272,259 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2010 272,259 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 16 Jan 2009 247,934 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)

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

Steering rack has slight wear

Fail 7 Jan 2009 247,934 miles

Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

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

Steering rack has slight wear

Pass 24 Jan 2008 221,188 miles

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

Fail 23 Jan 2008 221,118 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 Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 10 Jan 2007 187,353 miles
Fail 10 Jan 2007 187,353 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)

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

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

Pass 18 Jan 2006 173,151 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)

wear n/s/r upper arm to hub knuckle

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

R49 FWS is a 1998 BMW 520 in Black with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

Across all 1998 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.2% with a typical mileage of 121,173 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 R49 FWS, 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 28 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 R49 FWS?

You can check the full history of R49 FWS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R49 FWS registered?

R49 FWS is a 1998 BMW 520, first registered on 23 January 1998.

Is R49 FWS safe to buy?

The MOT history for R49 FWS shows 9 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R49 FWS 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 R49 FWS. 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.