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S157 GUF

1998 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Feb 2027
Tests23 (13 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate56.5%

Mileage

81,400 mi
Last recorded81,400 miles
Recorded on13 Feb 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS157 GUF
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

13 pass 10 fail
Pass 13 Feb 2026 81,400 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2026 82,382 miles

Front Headlamp aim too low BOTH (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 25 Feb 2025 76,927 miles

Nearside Front Front passenger door catch deteriorated so the door cannot be readily opened or closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 30 Jul 2021 75,238 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2021 75,238 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Feb 2020 71,918 miles
Fail 1 Nov 2019 71,909 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear beside fuel tank x2 (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 26 Sep 2018 61,614 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2013 58,908 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 6 Sep 2013 58,908 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2012 54,789 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2012 54,789 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 2 Sep 2011 50,439 miles

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

Pass 8 Sep 2010 46,591 miles

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

Nearside front tyre has cuts but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords

Fail 4 Sep 2010 46,520 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside front tyre has cuts but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords

Pass 8 Sep 2009 42,290 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2009 42,289 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

registration plate non-reflective border too close to the characters (6.3.4h)

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

Fail 7 Sep 2009 42,285 miles

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 8 Sep 2008 38,397 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2007 34,607 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

nearside rear tyre has two nails

Pass 30 Jul 2007 34,607 miles

nearside rear tyre has two nails

Fail 15 Sep 2006 30,719 miles

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

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

registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Pass 15 Sep 2006 30,719 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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S157 GUF is a 1998 BMW 520 in Silver with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.5%.

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 S157 GUF, 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 S157 GUF?

You can check the full history of S157 GUF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S157 GUF registered?

S157 GUF is a 1998 BMW 520, first registered on 4 September 1998.

Is S157 GUF safe to buy?

The MOT history for S157 GUF shows 23 tests with a 56.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S157 GUF 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 S157 GUF. 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.