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Bmw 520 - 2008

268.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw 520, model year 2008. Sample size: 2,988 cars, 6,038 tests and 16,191 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,988 cars

The 2008 BMW 520 has an overall defect rate of 268 per 100 vehicles, which is 20.5% lower than the average for its year at 337 per 100. Notably, the model performs better than average in several categories, including brakes, lights and electrics, and body structure, showing significant reductions in defects compared to the yearly averages. However, it shows a higher defect rate in the lower mileage segments, particularly with vehicles under 31,000 miles. Overall, this model demonstrates strong reliability in key areas while maintaining a lower overall defect rate compared to similar vehicles.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,988 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

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 20.2% better
106.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 21.1% better
14.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
Visibility
▲ 4.3% better
24.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 44.0% better
51.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 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
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 13.0% better
270.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 63.5% better
18.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft bearing: excessively worn
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 57.4% better
4.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 100 tests
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 14.6% worse
47.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 600 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,412
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,279
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,163
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 805
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 796
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 516
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 442
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 386
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 349
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 345

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 345
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 272
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 219
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 125
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 108
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 104
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
FAIL
Occurrences: 101
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 80