CarVerify

Free Car Check

VU53 ELV

2004 BMW 520

Silver Petrol 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Jan 2024
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

143,159 mi
Last recorded143,159 miles
Recorded on6 Jan 2023
Typical for 2004 BMW 52084,715 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

RegistrationVU53 ELV
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2004
ColourSilver
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 6 Jan 2023 143,159 miles

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 6 Jan 2023 143,159 miles

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Pass 27 Dec 2021 128,801 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides front arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 13 Jan 2021 121,799 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 12 Jan 2021 121,798 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

Pass 16 Jan 2020 116,129 miles

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

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

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

Fail 13 Jan 2020 116,121 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn rear bush as marked (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Jan 2019 111,016 miles

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

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Jan 2019 111,015 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Jan 2018 98,952 miles

N/S/R AND O/S/R LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS BUSHES ARE WORN

O/S/R TYRE IS DOWN TO 2MM AND SPLITTING

Pass 13 Oct 2017 98,922 miles

N/S/R AND O/S/R LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS FRONT BUSHES ARE WORN

O/S/R TYRE DOWN TO 2MM AND SPLITTING

Fail 12 Oct 2017 98,922 miles

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

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

N/S/R AND O/S/R LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS FRONT BUSHES ARE WORN

O/S/R TYRE DOWN TO 2MM AND SPLITTING

Pass 19 Jan 2017 91,771 miles

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

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

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

windscreen washer pump weak

Fail 19 Jan 2017 91,771 miles

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

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

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

windscreen washer pump weak

Pass 11 Jan 2016 83,843 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 12 Jan 2015 75,598 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 9 Jan 2015 75,598 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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

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

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

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

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

possible misalignment of front wheels

Pass 16 Dec 2013 70,834 miles

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

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

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

Pass 28 Nov 2012 68,094 miles

brake pipe to offside rear hose corroded:- recommend new.

Pass 24 Nov 2011 64,666 miles
Pass 26 May 2011 55,983 miles
Pass 28 May 2010 39,536 miles
Pass 21 May 2009 27,939 miles
Pass 21 May 2008 16,431 miles
Pass 17 May 2007 4,415 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2007 4,402 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2007 4,025 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

VU53 ELV is a 2004 BMW 520 in Silver with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 VU53 ELV, 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 VU53 ELV?

You can check the full history of VU53 ELV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VU53 ELV registered?

VU53 ELV is a 2004 BMW 520, first registered on 29 January 2004.

Is VU53 ELV safe to buy?

The MOT history for VU53 ELV shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VU53 ELV 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 VU53 ELV. 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.