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Bmw 520 - 1999

374.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1999 is 349.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw 520, model year 1999. Sample size: 125 cars, 273 tests and 1,023 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 125 cars

The 1999 BMW 520 has an overall defect rate of 375 per 100 vehicles, which is 8.7% higher than the average for cars of the same year at 345 per 100. This model shows a notable increase in defects as mileage rises, particularly with a significant spike in the highest mileage category. It performs better than average in the Body/Structure category, with a defect rate of 47% compared to the average of 73%. However, it has higher defect rates in critical areas such as Brakes and Lights & Electrics, indicating that these components may require more attention compared to similar vehicles from that year.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 125 cars

More model years for Bmw 520

1995 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Bmw

Bmw 114 Bmw 116 Bmw 118 Bmw 120 Bmw 123 Bmw 125 Bmw 216 Bmw 218 Bmw 220 Bmw 316 Bmw 318 Bmw 320 Bmw 330 Bmw 335 Bmw 418 Bmw 420 Bmw 428 Bmw 430 Bmw 435 Bmw 440 Bmw 518 Bmw 520 Bmw 523 Bmw 525 Bmw 528 Bmw 530 Bmw 535 Bmw 630 Bmw 640 Bmw 645 Bmw 650 Bmw 728 Bmw 730 Bmw 740 Bmw 840 Bmw ALPINA Bmw I3 Bmw I4 Bmw IX3 Bmw M2 Bmw M3 Bmw M340D Bmw M4 Bmw M5 Bmw M6 Bmw X1 Bmw X2 Bmw X3 Bmw X4 Bmw X5 Bmw X6 Bmw X7 Bmw Z3 Bmw Z4

Categories

Brakes
▼ 29.9% worse
199.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 153.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 20.8% better
20.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.9 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 14.7% better
22.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.6 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • A bonnet: which cannot be safely secured in the closed position
Lights & Electrics
▼ 23.4% worse
90.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 73.0 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: seriously defective or missing
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 3.5% worse
276.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 266.9 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Body/Structure
▲ 38.7% better
46.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 76.5 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft bent or badly damaged
Equipment
▼ 33.3% worse
25.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 20.5% worse
68.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 56.5 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 538 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 74
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 74
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 71
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 60
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 53
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 31
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 31
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 27
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 25

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Parking brake inoperative on one side, or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight line
FAIL
Occurrences: 8