CarVerify

Free Car Check

E311 DVL

1988 BMW 520

Blue Petrol 1990cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Jul 2026
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

184,293 mi
Last recorded184,293 miles
Recorded on9 Jul 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 520127,324 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

RegistrationE311 DVL
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1988
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

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

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 9 Jul 2025 184,293 miles
Fail 5 Jul 2025 184,292 miles

Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 13 Jul 2024 183,756 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2023 183,114 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2022 182,568 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2021 181,121 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2020 179,245 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2019 175,983 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2018 169,887 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2018 169,797 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Floor excessively deteriorated (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Jul 2017 167,406 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 18 Jun 2016 161,744 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2015 154,702 miles

Offside Rear Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

rear fuel pipes rusty

Pass 22 Mar 2014 147,287 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2013 139,496 miles

o/s front brake low efficiency

Pass 21 Jan 2012 133,782 miles

Nearside Front Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

o/s front brake low efficiency

Pass 24 Jan 2011 125,431 miles

Nearside front brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Offside Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 24 Jan 2011 125,431 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside front brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Offside Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 28 Oct 2008 118,038 miles
Fail 27 Oct 2008 118,038 miles

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Fail 1 Oct 2008 118,030 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 5 Oct 2007 111,764 miles

R/o/side tyre close to limuts

Fail 29 Sep 2007 111,664 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Rear Torque/reaction arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

R/o/side tyre close to limuts

Pass 29 Sep 2006 105,341 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

E311 DVL is a 1988 BMW 520 in Blue with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1988 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.4% with a typical mileage of 127,324 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 E311 DVL, 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 38 years old, this BMW 520 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E311 DVL?

You can check the full history of E311 DVL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E311 DVL registered?

E311 DVL is a 1988 BMW 520, first registered on 1 January 1988.

Is E311 DVL safe to buy?

The MOT history for E311 DVL shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E311 DVL 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 E311 DVL. 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.