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A18 ALK

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Apr 2027
Tests26 (21 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80.8%

Mileage

169,231 mi
Last recorded169,231 miles
Recorded on16 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA18 ALK
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

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

21 pass 5 fail
Pass 16 Apr 2026 169,231 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 Worn outer edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 28 Apr 2025 155,890 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Feb 2024 135,927 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2023 119,841 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2022 107,555 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2022 107,555 miles

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 10 Feb 2021 105,611 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Feb 2020 105,309 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Feb 2019 104,146 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2018 101,756 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2017 100,454 miles
Fail 14 Feb 2017 100,454 miles

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Pass 17 Feb 2016 98,473 miles
Pass 11 Feb 2015 95,841 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 11 Feb 2015 95,841 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 18 Feb 2014 92,514 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2013 89,715 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2012 86,521 miles
Pass 17 Feb 2011 83,142 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2010 80,026 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2010 80,025 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 25 Feb 2009 74,881 miles

Nearside Front Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Offside Front Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 25 Feb 2008 69,526 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 24 Feb 2007 64,602 miles
Fail 21 Feb 2007 64,602 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 10 Feb 2006 59,052 miles

both front and both rear tyres JUST LEGAL

How Reliable is the BMW 523?

Based on 254,660 MOT tests across 20,979 vehicles.

69.9%
Pass Rate
5,849
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
20,979
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,201
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,085
parking brake recording little or no effort 9,427
Brake pipe excessively corroded 9,143
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 7,285
Full BMW 523 reliability report

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A18 ALK is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80.8%.

Across all 1998 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.9% with a typical mileage of 117,395 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 523 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 17,201 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A18 ALK, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 523 typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 28 years old, this BMW 523 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A18 ALK?

You can check the full history of A18 ALK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A18 ALK registered?

A18 ALK is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 5 March 1998.

Is A18 ALK safe to buy?

The MOT history for A18 ALK shows 26 tests with a 80.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A18 ALK 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 A18 ALK. 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.