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DRH 18L

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Nov 2026
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

118,948 mi
Last recorded118,948 miles
Recorded on7 Nov 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationDRH 18L
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
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

20 pass 10 fail
Pass 7 Nov 2025 118,948 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords cut on outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Wing damaged, no Sharpe edges

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

Fail 20 Oct 2025 118,872 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed inner edges (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Wing damaged, no Sharpe edges

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

Pass 2 Oct 2024 117,713 miles

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

Pass 19 Oct 2023 114,101 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Collision damage.

Fail 13 Oct 2023 114,099 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Rearmost joint as marked. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill area. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick Especially nearside. (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Outer Collision damage.

Pass 21 Oct 2022 111,514 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 21 Oct 2022 111,514 miles

Front Bumper insecure (6.1.4 (a) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 28 Jul 2021 110,395 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 28 Jul 2021 110,395 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 17 Jun 2020 105,370 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2019 103,211 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2018 100,396 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Jun 2017 98,222 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2016 91,152 miles
Fail 14 Apr 2016 91,144 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt back (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt back (2.4.G.2)

Oil Leak

Pass 24 Jul 2015 87,046 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2014 80,835 miles
Fail 29 Jul 2014 80,832 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 19 Jul 2013 71,966 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 19 Jul 2013 71,963 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 5 Jul 2012 64,513 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (4.1.D.1e)

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

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Fail 5 Jul 2012 64,508 miles

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (4.1.D.1e)

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

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 7 Jul 2011 61,262 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2011 61,259 miles

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

Pass 23 Jun 2010 57,406 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2009 55,349 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 20 Jul 2009 55,349 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 8 Jul 2008 53,184 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2007 49,066 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2006 44,278 miles

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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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.

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DRH 18L is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1997 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 121,619 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 523 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 17,201 recorded failures. If you're considering buying DRH 18L, 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 29 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 DRH 18L?

You can check the full history of DRH 18L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DRH 18L registered?

DRH 18L is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 5 August 1997.

Is DRH 18L safe to buy?

The MOT history for DRH 18L shows 30 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DRH 18L 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 DRH 18L. 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.