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FSS 444

1997 BMW 523

Beige Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Jun 2026
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

61,894 mi
Last recorded61,894 miles
Recorded on27 Jun 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

RegistrationFSS 444
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourBeige
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 4 fail
Pass 27 Jun 2025 61,894 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2025 61,894 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 16 Jan 2024 58,231 miles

Both Front tyres over 10years old (2006)

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 May 2023 49,704 miles

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened inner surfaces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 16 May 2023 49,704 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened inner surfaces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 5 May 2022 40,119 miles
Fail 3 May 2022 40,119 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 14 May 2021 33,268 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2020 31,893 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides front to rear, starting to corrode a bit (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Lower suspension arms, outer joint boots split, both sides

Pass 26 Mar 2019 31,743 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2018 30,921 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2017 30,324 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)

Pass 23 Mar 2016 29,629 miles

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

Pass 20 Mar 2015 29,178 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2014 28,797 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2013 29,479 miles
Pass 15 Mar 2012 28,306 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2011 28,056 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2010 27,838 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2009 27,727 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2008 27,529 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2007 27,365 miles

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 16 Mar 2006 27,083 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2006 27,077 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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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FSS 444 is a 1997 BMW 523 in Beige with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

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 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 FSS 444, 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 FSS 444?

You can check the full history of FSS 444 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FSS 444 registered?

FSS 444 is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 29 March 1997.

Is FSS 444 safe to buy?

The MOT history for FSS 444 shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FSS 444 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 FSS 444. 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.