Used car guide

2013 BMW 520: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 BMW 520s, from 6,481 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,481MOT tests in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
10,300typical miles a year
21×the usual rate for flexible couplings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 BMW 520s than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Flexible couplings21× usual
    BMW 520
    2.1% All 2013 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.2% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars. Ball joint: 0.8% here, against 5% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 BMW 520 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    20% 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.

  • Suspension
    19% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    14% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    6% 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.

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%
20126,020Tyres 31%
20116,844Tyres 31%
20103,675Suspension 33%
20093,423Suspension 39%
20082,220Suspension 42%
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 2013 BMW 520s registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score