Is the 2021 BMW 520 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 97% of BMW 520s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 61 tests. That's 15 points above the national average of 82%.

How much does a 2021 BMW 520 cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,777 (£148/month), including £1327 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 BMW 520?

The 2021 BMW 520 has a 97% MOT pass rate based on 61 tests in 2026. This ranks 421 out of 3373 cars from 2021.

Which year BMW 520 is most reliable?

The 2021 BMW 520 has the highest MOT pass rate at 97%. The least reliable year is 1996 at 64%.

BMW 520 (2021)

Q: What is the average mileage for a 2021 BMW 520?

The average mileage for a 2021 BMW 520 is 21,198 miles, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 61 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,777

£148/month

MOT Pass Rate

97%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 18-32

2000cc Petrol

Great Choice

97% pass rate, £1777/year to run. 15 points above average.

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Petrol2000cc5 years old61 tests21k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 2000cc)

~36 mpg

£1,327

Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,777

Per month£148/mo

Per week£34/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

97% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 15 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the BMW brand average of 88%.

At 5 years old, 97% of BMW 520s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 61 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 21,198 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 cars421th of 3,373(top 12%)

Rank among BMW models122th of 1,564(top 8%)

vs national average+15%(82% avg)

vs 2021 cars average+5%(92% avg)

vs BMW average+9%(88% avg)

Mileage Analysis

21,198

Average miles

37,000

Expected for age

The average 2021 BMW 520 has 21,198 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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BMW 520 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	97%	61	21,198 mi
2020	91%	153	37,784 mi
2019	93%	260	53,629 mi
2018	89%	408	59,377 mi
2017	90%	3,033	78,699 mi
2016	90%	21,858	88,137 mi
2015	89%	22,398	100,237 mi
2014	87%	22,280	111,440 mi
2013	86%	13,541	117,221 mi
2012	84%	13,792	126,086 mi
2011	82%	15,882	135,205 mi
2010	82%	8,647	137,583 mi
2009	81%	8,080	144,392 mi
2008	80%	5,590	153,055 mi
2007	79%	6,483	162,310 mi
2006	77%	4,128	171,451 mi
2005	72%	1,137	170,402 mi
2004	78%	502	123,517 mi
2003	75%	752	112,691 mi
2002	74%	599	119,674 mi
2001	75%	416	118,034 mi
2000	78%	219	119,331 mi
1999	78%	368	129,821 mi
1998	65%	366	131,359 mi
1997	69%	183	116,662 mi
1996	64%	114	118,652 mi
1995	75%	336	123,709 mi
1994	78%	201	118,772 mi
1993	74%	138	111,214 mi
1992	71%	99	101,159 mi
1991	79%	52	120,049 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

NISSAN QASHQAI

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,582/year

93%

-4%

HYUNDAI TUCSON

2019 · 1591cc Petrol

£1,582/year

90%

-7%

MERCEDES A

2021 · 1991cc Petrol

£1,772/year

94%

-3%

VOLVO XC40

2020 · 2000cc Petrol

£1,772/year

93%

-4%

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About the 2021 BMW 520

The 2021 BMW 520 is a premium with a 2000cc petrol engine. 61 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It ranks in the top 12% of all 2021 cars for reliability.

With an average of 21,198 miles at 5 years old, BMW 520 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2021 BMW 520 Fuel Costs

The 2000cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,327 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 BMW 520?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,777 (£148/month), broken down as £1327 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 97% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

BMW 520 Reliability Trend

Newer BMW 520s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 12 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2021 BMW 520

At 5 years old, the BMW 520 offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. Note: with only 61 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2021 BMW 520's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Oil Consumption

Low risk

Larger petrol engines can develop higher oil consumption as they age. Check the oil level and look for blue smoke from the exhaust.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 BMW 520 stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
BMW 520(2021)	97%	£1327	£195	Grp 18-32	£1777
NISSAN QASHQAI(2020)	93%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582-£195
HYUNDAI TUCSON(2019)	90%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582-£195
MERCEDES A(2021)	94%	£1327	£190	Grp 18-32	£1772-£5
VOLVO XC40(2020)	93%	£1327	£190	Grp 18-32	£1772-£5

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.