Used car guide

2008 BMW 520: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 BMW 520s, from 2,220 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,220MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
9,100typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 BMW 520s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.3× usual
    BMW 520
    9.2% All 2008 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.5% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Handbrake lever4.3× usual
    BMW 520
    2.6% All 2008 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.1% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Coil springs: 4.7% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 BMW 520 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a BMW 520?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20171,462Tyres 26%
201611,923Tyres 26%
201512,114Tyres 27%
201411,329Tyres 28%
20136,481Tyres 29%
20126,020Tyres 31%
20116,844Tyres 31%
20103,675Suspension 33%
20093,423Suspension 39%
20072,434Suspension 50%
20061,564Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 BMW 520s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score