CarVerify

Free Car Check

FH05 XEW

2005 BMW 523

Grey Petrol 2497cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Nov 2026
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

237,062 mi
Last recorded237,062 miles
Recorded on28 Nov 2025
Typical for 2005 BMW 52384,459 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationFH05 XEW
MakeBMW
Model523
Year2005
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,497cc

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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 28 Nov 2025 237,062 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2024 228,884 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2023 221,040 miles

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Nov 2022 215,025 miles

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

Fail 17 Nov 2022 215,015 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 17 Nov 2021 208,570 miles
Fail 4 Nov 2021 208,459 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Position lamp incorrect colour both front lights (4.2.3 (a) (i))

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

Pass 3 Nov 2020 200,152 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both rear (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 28 Oct 2019 192,177 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Pass 5 Nov 2018 178,940 miles
Fail 5 Nov 2018 178,940 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt buckle not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (d))

Pass 31 Oct 2017 173,876 miles

undertrays fitted obscuring some components

Pass 14 Oct 2016 170,869 miles

Oil leak ()

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit both tyres worn inner edge (4.1.E.1)

under trays fitted

Pass 7 Oct 2015 165,015 miles

oil leak

under trays fitted not allowing an inspection to most off the underside off the vehicle

Pass 26 Sep 2014 157,877 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

brake pad warning light on (new pads fitted)

severe oil leak

Pass 11 Oct 2013 151,274 miles

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

Pass 26 Oct 2012 138,703 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 26 Oct 2012 138,703 miles

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 8 Aug 2011 131,149 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 27 Jul 2010 116,650 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2009 105,743 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2008 98,073 miles

nearside front tyre has a nail in it

Fail 2 Jun 2008 95,308 miles

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

Pass 2 Jun 2008 95,308 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

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

FH05 XEW is a 2005 BMW 523 in Grey with a 2,497cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 2005 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 77.0% with a typical mileage of 84,459 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 FH05 XEW, 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 21 years old, this BMW 523 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FH05 XEW?

You can check the full history of FH05 XEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FH05 XEW registered?

FH05 XEW is a 2005 BMW 523, first registered on 29 June 2005.

Is FH05 XEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for FH05 XEW shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FH05 XEW 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 FH05 XEW. 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.