MOT failure data · 2025

BMW 520D MOT problems

Across every BMW 520D that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, on 20.1% of failure items. The broadest problem area was tyres at 56.58%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common BMW 520D MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	20.1%
2	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	12.7%
3	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	11.66%
4	Condition has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	10.22%
5	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	8.38%
6	Condition fractured	Road Wheels	8.19%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 6 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a BMW 520D, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used BMW 520D buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific BMW 520D?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other BMW models

BMW 520D MOT FAQs

What does a BMW 520D most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on BMW 520D cars failing their 2025 MOT was "condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords", appearing on 20.1% of failure items.

Does this mean my BMW 520D will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every BMW 520D that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The BMW 520D passed 88.25% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific BMW 520D's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.