BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 10,984 MOT tests across 4 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Diesel, Diesel hybrid
92%
BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto pass rate
88%
BMW average
82%
All-model average
The BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, which is 4 points above the BMW average and 10 points above the average across all models in our data. The BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage point.
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What the BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto Fails Its MOT On
Of the 909 MOT tests on the BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Tyres
58%Cars and vans the same age: 39% (the 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
19%Cars and vans the same age: 4.8% (the 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Wheels
9.7%Cars and vans the same age: 1.3% (the 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails on this more often)
Lights and electrics
9.5%Cars and vans the same age: 22% (the 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
8.4%Cars and vans the same age: 22% (the 520D M Sport MHEV Auto fails on this less often) · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (22% of failed tests, tyres)
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed (15% of failed tests, tyres)
- Engine warning lamp (diesel) on or not working (14% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 520D M Sport MHEV Auto year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 2021: 89% passed, against 93% for all 2021 cars (4 points lower, 3,423 tests)
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto Running Costs
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BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto FAQ
What are the most common BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (58% of the 909 failed tests), exhaust, emissions and leaks (19%) and wheels (9.7%). The single most common fault was "Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords" (22%). Across 10,984 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 92% ended in a pass.
Is the BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto reliable?
The BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, from 10,984 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2021 (89% of 3,423 tests passed, against 93% for all 2021 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a BMW 520D M Sport MHEV Auto typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other BMW Models
Common problems pages for other BMW models