CarVerify

Free Car Check

R97 MEJ

1998 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 1991cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Feb 2016
Tests15 (10 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

132,925 mi
Last recorded132,925 miles
Recorded on28 Feb 2015
Typical for 1998 BMW 520121,173 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationR97 MEJ
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1998
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

10 pass 5 fail
Pass 28 Feb 2015 132,925 miles
Fail 28 Feb 2015 132,925 miles

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

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Front Parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.D.3b)

Pass 15 Feb 2014 129,525 miles

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

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 6 Feb 2014 129,319 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 12 Apr 2013 126,126 miles

Nail in offside front tyre

Fail 10 Apr 2013 126,126 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)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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)

Nail in offside front tyre

Pass 21 Apr 2012 121,604 miles

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

air bag warning light on

Fail 27 Apr 2011 110,533 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 27 Apr 2011 110,533 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2010 107,931 miles

Nearside Front Power steering ram(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 12 Mar 2009 107,442 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Oil leak

Pass 12 Mar 2009 107,442 miles

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

Oil leak

Pass 7 Mar 2008 103,836 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2007 90,868 miles

n/s/r tyre wearing on inner edge slight leak n/s steering rack

Pass 24 Feb 2006 80,398 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

R97 MEJ is a 1998 BMW 520 in Silver with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 R97 MEJ, 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 R97 MEJ?

You can check the full history of R97 MEJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R97 MEJ registered?

R97 MEJ is a 1998 BMW 520, first registered on 30 January 1998.

Is R97 MEJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R97 MEJ shows 15 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R97 MEJ 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 R97 MEJ. 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.