CarVerify

Free Car Check

SD53 KPV

2003 BMW 520

Silver Diesel 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Oct 2025
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

175,144 mi
Last recorded175,144 miles
Recorded on10 Dec 2025
Typical for 2003 BMW 52084,985 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

RegistrationSD53 KPV
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
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 9 fail
Fail 10 Dec 2025 175,144 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Front Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Front Tyre(s) with different aspect ratios are fitted on twin wheels (5.2.3 (b))

Nearside Front Bumper damaged and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted (6.1.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn upper (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged ns/os front to rear (1.1.11 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt buckle not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (d))

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

Offside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

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))

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

Central Front Undertray likely to become detached eng tray (6.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Central Rear Integral body structure strengthening plate or fastening so insecure that structural rigidity is seriously reduced tunnel (6.1.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

All position lamps light intensity obviously reduced (4.2.3 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 23 Oct 2024 167,330 miles

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

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

Rear Position lamp has a product on the lens or light source but not adversely affecting light intensity both (4.2.3 (b) (ii))

Pass 11 Sep 2024 166,667 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp has a product on the lens or light source but not adversely affecting light intensity (4.2.3 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Position lamp has a product on the lens or light source but not adversely affecting light intensity (4.2.3 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 25 Aug 2023 162,152 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 30 Aug 2022 155,193 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Fail 29 Aug 2022 155,193 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 30 Aug 2021 149,346 miles
Fail 30 Aug 2021 149,344 miles

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 22 Jun 2020 143,653 miles
Fail 22 Jun 2020 143,653 miles

Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system front to rear (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 27 Jun 2019 138,298 miles

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

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

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

Pass 12 Jul 2018 135,685 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2018 135,685 miles

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

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

Pass 19 Jul 2017 134,159 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Apr 2016 125,875 miles

Front Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear Lower Tie bar/rod synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rose bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

front brake fluctuating, but not excessively both (3.7.B.3)

Pass 31 Mar 2015 117,948 miles

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

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

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

Fail 27 Mar 2015 117,943 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 7 Feb 2014 102,174 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2014 102,174 miles

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)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Pass 24 May 2013 98,380 miles

both front tyres perished

osf tyre has slight cut on outer wall

Fail 29 Apr 2013 98,380 miles

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

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

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 Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

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

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 Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

both front tyres perished

osf tyre has slight cut on outer wall

Pass 23 Feb 2012 81,250 miles

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

Fail 15 Feb 2012 81,250 miles

Nearside Rear brake caliper securing device missing (3.5.1j)

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

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

Pass 24 Feb 2011 70,911 miles

Offside Inner Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 26 Feb 2010 55,398 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2009 46,498 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2007 42,596 miles

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

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

Pass 26 Sep 2006 33,045 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

SD53 KPV is a 2003 BMW 520 in Silver with a 2,171cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 2003 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.5% with a typical mileage of 84,985 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 SD53 KPV, 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 23 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 SD53 KPV?

You can check the full history of SD53 KPV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SD53 KPV registered?

SD53 KPV is a 2003 BMW 520, first registered on 30 September 2003.

Is SD53 KPV safe to buy?

The MOT history for SD53 KPV shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SD53 KPV 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 SD53 KPV. 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.