2010 BMW 520 2.0L Diesel · DP10 NSF

The 2010 BMW 520d currently holds a valid MOT that ran out on 3 November 2025, meaning the certificate is now over seven months expired and the car is not legally roadworthy for use on public roads until retested. The maintenance trend over the past two years is mixed. A fractured offside rear coil spring caused an MOT failure in October 2025 at 96,186 miles, yet the retest just eight days later at 96,239 miles passed with no mention of that defect, suggesting the spring was replaced promptly. However, both front lower suspension arm ball joints were flagged as having slight play in both that October failure and the subsequent November pass, indicating the underlying wear was noted but not remedied. This pattern points to selective rather than thorough repairs, with critical suspension components left to deteriorate. The vehicle has covered 96,239 miles over roughly sixteen years, averaging approximately 6,015 miles per year, which is modest for a diesel executive saloon of this type. The MOT record shows a jump of 4,874 miles between October 2024 at 91,365 miles and October 2023 at 88,316 miles, a reasonable annual increment. The mileage then plateaued, with only 53 miles added between the October 2025 failure and the November 2025 retest, consistent with a short retest drive. There are no glaring gaps in the record, and the annual testing pattern has been consistent since at least 2023, suggesting the car has been in continuous use rather than sitting idle for extended periods. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension, specifically both lower arm ball joints, which have appeared as advisories or defects in three consecutive MOT entries dating back to October 2023. Persistent slight play at these joints often accelerates tyre wear and can compromise steering precision if left unaddressed. The front shock absorbers also showed light oil misting on the nearside in October 2023, and while this did not reappear in later tests, it warrants a physical check for damping performance and fluid seepage. The rear braking system should be inspected, given the rear pad wear flagged in 2023, and the offside rear coil spring area examined for any signs of corrosion or repeated fracture risk. With the MOT now expired, a fresh inspection by an independent BMW specialist before purchase is strongly advisable.