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RN53 ZRF

2004 BMW 520

Grey Petrol 2171cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Mar 2026
Tests26 (19 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate73.1%

Mileage

126,238 mi
Last recorded126,238 miles
Recorded on13 Mar 2025
Typical for 2004 BMW 52084,715 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationRN53 ZRF
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2004
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,171cc

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

19 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Mar 2025 126,238 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Inner Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 13 Mar 2025 126,238 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Inner Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 16 Mar 2024 115,710 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. it would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair.

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 16 Mar 2024 115,710 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. it would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair.

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 23 Feb 2023 105,596 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Lenses deteriorated BOTH SIDES (4.1.4 (b))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Front arms BOTH SIDES (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged Outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Inner tie rod/ steering arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated BOTH SIDES (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated BOTH upper arms BOTH SIDES (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Feb 2023 105,594 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Lower rose bush on hub BOTH SIDES (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt BOTH SIDES (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Lenses deteriorated BOTH SIDES (4.1.4 (b))

Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Front arms BOTH SIDES (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged Outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Inner tie rod/ steering arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated BOTH SIDES (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 18 Jan 2023 105,583 miles

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged and affecting the driver's view of the road (3.2 (a) (ii))

Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output Nearside and Offside (4.1.4 (b))

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded Nearside and Offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 7 Jan 2022 97,085 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Jan 2021 88,104 miles

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Nearside and Offside (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Jan 2020 78,644 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated n/s and o/s (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 11 Jan 2020 78,643 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated n/s and o/s (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Mar 2019 77,790 miles

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front (5.2.3 (e))

plastic under trays fitted

Pass 29 Mar 2018 76,416 miles

plastic under trays fitted

slight play in inner rack arms

Fail 29 Mar 2018 76,416 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

plastic under trays fitted

slight play in inner rack arms

Pass 9 Mar 2017 73,859 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2017 73,846 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 Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2016 67,082 miles

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

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

under covers restricted full inspection

Pass 27 Feb 2015 62,797 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2014 59,017 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2013 53,541 miles

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

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

Pass 2 Mar 2012 47,579 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2011 40,551 miles

slight play in rear nearside upper tie bar outer ball joint

slight play in rear offside upper tie bar outer ball joint

Pass 29 Jan 2010 32,717 miles
Pass 21 Jan 2009 25,488 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2008 21,589 miles
Pass 13 Jan 2007 18,326 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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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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RN53 ZRF is a 2004 BMW 520 in Grey with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.1%.

Across all 2004 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.8% with a typical mileage of 84,715 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 RN53 ZRF, 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 22 years old, this BMW 520 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of RN53 ZRF?

You can check the full history of RN53 ZRF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RN53 ZRF registered?

RN53 ZRF is a 2004 BMW 520, first registered on 30 January 2004.

Is RN53 ZRF safe to buy?

The MOT history for RN53 ZRF shows 26 tests with a 73.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RN53 ZRF 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 RN53 ZRF. 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.