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Bmw 520 - 2012

160.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw 520, model year 2012. Sample size: 7,129 cars, 16,451 tests and 26,364 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 7,129 cars

The 2012 BMW 520 has a significantly lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 160 defects per 100 vehicles versus 246. Notably, this model performs exceptionally well in categories such as brakes, steering, and body structure, showing a marked improvement over the average defect percentages. Mileage-related trends indicate that the defect rate varies across different mileage brackets, with the highest issues occurring within the lowest mileage range of 0–31,000 miles. Overall, the BMW 520 stands out positively in several key categories, demonstrating a solid performance compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 7,129 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
▲ 35.2% better
67.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
Steering
▲ 50.8% better
6.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
Visibility
▲ 21.4% better
15.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 43.6% better
34.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 29.0% better
173.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 87.4% better
3.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
  • A transmission shaft flexible coupling: excessively deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 56.5% better
2.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
  • Audible warning:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 28.0% better
17.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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: 5,804
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,213
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,905
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,730
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,236
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 845
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 794
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 794
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 557
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 530

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 794
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 513
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 504
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 473
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 403
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 266
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 223
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 204
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 200
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 169