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R542 SSD

1998 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Jun 2015
Tests18 (8 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate44.4%

Mileage

180,106 mi
Last recorded180,106 miles
Recorded on13 May 2015
Typical for 1998 BMW 520121,173 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR542 SSD
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1998
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

8 pass 10 fail
Fail 13 May 2015 180,106 miles

Centre Stop lamp insecure (1.2.1a)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

Offside Rear Upper Radius arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 Jun 2014 169,643 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Offside Rear Upper Radius arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 May 2014 169,543 miles

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

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Centre Rear Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Offside Rear Upper Radius arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 9 May 2013 157,770 miles

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

Offside Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Fail 8 May 2013 157,755 miles

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

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Outer Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 5 Jun 2012 154,842 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

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

Oil leak

Temporary fuel cap fitted

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

slight roughness in nearside rear wheel bearing

slight rumble from differential

windscreen scored along passengers wiper arc

Fail 23 May 2012 154,787 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear brake juddering severely (3.7.A.5b)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely by positive means (7.2.4b)

Offside Rear Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement (7.2.4b)

Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

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

Offside front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Oil leak

Temporary fuel cap fitted

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

slight roughness in nearside rear wheel bearing

slight rumble from differential

windscreen scored along passengers wiper arc

Pass 30 May 2011 152,942 miles
Fail 26 May 2011

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

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

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

Pass 6 May 2010 145,861 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

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

Fail 4 May 2010 145,850 miles

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

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

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

Pass 26 May 2009 139,302 miles

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

Fail 23 May 2009 139,302 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 23 Apr 2009 138,966 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 Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

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

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 9 Apr 2008 125,964 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2008 125,964 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Dec 2006 112,030 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2006 112,030 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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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R542 SSD is a 1998 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 44.4%.

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 R542 SSD, 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 R542 SSD?

You can check the full history of R542 SSD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R542 SSD registered?

R542 SSD is a 1998 BMW 520, first registered on 23 April 1998.

Is R542 SSD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R542 SSD shows 18 tests with a 44.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R542 SSD 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 R542 SSD. 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.