2011 BMW 520 MOT pass rate: 76.7% (22,726 tests)
Is the 2011 520 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2011-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 76.3% +6.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 76.2% +7.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 77.7% +9.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2011 520
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3,362 | 28.0% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3,222 | 26.8% |
| 3 | Tyres | 2,216 | 18.4% |
| 4 | Brakes | 1,054 | 8.8% |
| 5 | Visibility | 633 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 446 | 3.7% |
All 520 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,584 | 67.7% | +3.2 pts | 167,283 |
| 2006 | 5,964 | 69.3% | +4.9 pts | 167,654 |
| 2007 | 9,059 | 70.4% | +5.3 pts | 159,130 |
| 2008 | 8,193 | 75.1% | +9.9 pts | 150,792 |
| 2009 | 11,710 | 74.2% | +7.8 pts | 142,481 |
| 2010 | 12,240 | 75.8% | +8.4 pts | 136,602 |
| 2011 (this page) | 22,726 | 76.7% | +7.5 pts | 134,267 |
| 2012 | 18,955 | 76.4% | +5.2 pts | 123,073 |
| 2013 | 19,777 | 80.7% | +7.4 pts | 113,179 |
| 2014 | 34,701 | 84.2% | +8.4 pts | 106,820 |
| 2015 | 36,695 | 86.0% | +7.3 pts | 94,524 |
| 2016 | 35,969 | 87.4% | +6.0 pts | 81,004 |
| 2017 | 4,386 | 87.0% | +3.0 pts | 73,600 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 520 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2011 BMW 520 reliable?
2011-registered examples passed 76.7% of their MOT tests (22,726 tests, 2023–2025), +7.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 15 years old with a median 134,267 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2011 520?
The median tested example shows 134,267 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.