Used car guide

2020 BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Auto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Autos, from 2,881 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,881MOT tests in 2025
87%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
10,100typical miles a year
null×the usual rate for flexible couplings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Autos than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Flexible couplingsnull× usual
    BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Auto
    5.9% All 2020 cars
    0%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0% of all 2020 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.

  • Engine warning light4× usual
    BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Auto
    2.8% All 2020 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.7% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Brake pads: 4% here, against 9.3% of all 2020 cars. Brake discs: 3.8% here, against 9% of all 2020 cars.

By area

The share of 2020 BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Auto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    7% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Suspension
    1% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,056Tyres 24%
20211,559Tyres 25%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 BMW 520D M Sport Mhev Autos registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score