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L3 NSU

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Apr 2023
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

168,381 mi
Last recorded168,381 miles
Recorded on26 Mar 2022
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationL3 NSU
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

16 pass 10 fail
Pass 26 Mar 2022 168,381 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 26 Mar 2022 168,381 miles

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2021 161,819 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Mar 2020 153,779 miles

Engine cover and under trays fitted restricting the view of testable items.

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 7 Mar 2020 153,779 miles

Engine cover and under trays fitted restricting the view of testable items.

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 16 Mar 2019 147,943 miles

Central Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

under trays fitted restricting the view of testable items

Pass 9 Mar 2018 138,026 miles

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

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush rear bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

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

Fail 9 Mar 2018 138,026 miles

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

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush rear bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Pass 3 Mar 2017 134,104 miles

Central Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush outer bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 26 Mar 2016 126,891 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded Both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 21 Mar 2015 120,445 miles

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 21 Mar 2015 120,445 miles

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 29 Mar 2014 112,517 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 11 Nov 2013 112,517 miles

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

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

Air con pump leaking and not being driven by the belt.

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Exhaust slightly rusty.

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

Fuel pipes rusty.

Fuel tank straps rusty.

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside front tyre worn on edges.

Nearside rear tyre worn on edge.

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

Offside front tyre worn on edges.

Offside rear tyre worn inner edge.

Oil leak

Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 8 Oct 2012 105,956 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Fuel pipes rusty.

NSF door catch faulty but door still sercures in the closed postion.

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 1 Nov 2011 101,820 miles

Air bag light on

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Knock from engine

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Fail 23 Sep 2011 101,820 miles

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Air bag light on

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Knock from engine

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 10 Sep 2010 101,180 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2010 101,180 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 9 Sep 2009 99,164 miles

Air bag light on.

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 9 Sep 2008 94,527 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 9 Sep 2008 94,527 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 11 Sep 2007 89,915 miles

As before

Fail 10 Sep 2007 89,915 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Inner Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Offside Outer Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) flickers when tapped lightly by hand (1.1.4c)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Air bag light on.

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

Nearside Rear Torsion bar slight play at an end fixing (2.4.E.2)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Torsion bar slight play at an end fixing (2.4.E.2)

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

Pass 6 Sep 2006 83,995 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2006 83,995 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

windscreen has small chip.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

L3 NSU 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 61.5%.

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 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 L3 NSU, 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 L3 NSU?

You can check the full history of L3 NSU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L3 NSU registered?

L3 NSU is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is L3 NSU safe to buy?

The MOT history for L3 NSU shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L3 NSU 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 L3 NSU. 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.