CarVerify

Free Car Check

A13 SPY

2009 BMW 520

Grey Diesel 1995cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Jan 2027
Tests19 (14 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate73.7%

Mileage

142,614 mi
Last recorded142,614 miles
Recorded on14 Jan 2026
Typical for 2009 BMW 520100,384 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationA13 SPY
MakeBMW
Model520
Year2009
ColourGrey
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,995cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

14 pass 5 fail
Pass 14 Jan 2026 142,614 miles

Offside Front All direction indicators slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both rear tyres close to limit (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 11 Sep 2025 142,581 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 18 Sep 2024 134,088 miles

Nearside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 17 Sep 2024 134,087 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 25 Sep 2023 132,374 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2022 120,435 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2021 103,437 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 25 Aug 2021 103,437 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 16 Sep 2020 94,171 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2019 83,847 miles

N/S hand brake effort low and O/S operation stiff

OSR brake pad sensor damaged

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Worn on inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 18 Sep 2018 73,282 miles

Nearside Parking brake lazy but efficiency met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair

Offside Front tyre inner edge wearing

all brake discs slightly pitted

undercarriage trays / sill guards / splash guards / heat shields /engine covers / component covers obscuring / limiting access to prescribed areas and or items

Pass 20 Sep 2017 59,147 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 15 Sep 2016 47,646 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2015 42,686 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2014 36,926 miles
Fail 16 Sep 2014 36,926 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Tyre pressure monitoring system warning lamp does not illuminate (4.1.D.4)

Pass 25 Sep 2013 30,829 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2013 30,828 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 21 Sep 2012 23,523 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 520?

Based on 1,661,806 MOT tests across 152,584 vehicles.

78.5%
Pass Rate
7,968
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
152,584
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,121
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 22,647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,724
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 15,884
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,720
Full BMW 520 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

A13 SPY is a 2009 BMW 520 in Grey with a 1,995cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.7%.

Across all 2009 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.9% with a typical mileage of 100,384 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 520 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 47,121 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A13 SPY, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 520 typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 17 years old, this BMW 520 is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A13 SPY?

You can check the full history of A13 SPY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A13 SPY registered?

A13 SPY is a 2009 BMW 520, first registered on 24 September 2009.

Is A13 SPY safe to buy?

The MOT history for A13 SPY shows 19 tests with a 73.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A13 SPY have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A13 SPY. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.