Bmw 520 - 2004
369.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw 520, model year 2004.
Sample size: 263 cars, 564 tests and 2,081 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 263 cars
The 2004 BMW 520 has an overall defect rate of approximately 369 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average for its year at 382 per 100 vehicles, showing a 3% improvement. Notably, this model excels in categories like Steering and Body/Structure, where it has significantly lower defect rates compared to the average. However, it does face challenges in the "Other" defects category, with a much higher rate than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defects increase as mileage increases, particularly in the higher mileage brackets.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 263 cars
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Categories
Brakes
▼ 8.2% worse
177.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 51.4% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 13.0% better
25.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: defective
- 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 11.6% better
97.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 1.4% better
308.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
- 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 pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 73.3% better
17.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
Equipment
▲ 12.3% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A statutory seat belt missing
Other
▼ 73.5% worse
87.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 209
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 205
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 181
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 139
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 88
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 75
Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 72
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 69
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 52
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Headlamp reflector or lens: seriously defective or missing
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 10