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M181 SWR

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Dec 2020
Tests21 (14 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

114,571 mi
Last recorded114,571 miles
Recorded on13 Nov 2019
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 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

RegistrationM181 SWR
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

14 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Nov 2019 114,571 miles

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

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

n/s/f seat belt slow to retract

Fail 12 Nov 2019 114,571 miles

Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

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

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

n/s/f seat belt slow to retract

Pass 27 Nov 2018 110,419 miles

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

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 26 Nov 2018 110,419 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Lower Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Brake hose connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.12 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Nov 2017 107,249 miles

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

oil leak

Pass 7 Dec 2016 100,023 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 7 Dec 2016 100,023 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

n/s/f tyre valve split

Pass 9 Nov 2015 95,446 miles

Advise check rear brake pads

Child seat fitted

Pass 23 Dec 2014 92,776 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 6 Jan 2014 88,474 miles
Fail 6 Jan 2014 88,474 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 11 Dec 2012 82,195 miles
Fail 7 Dec 2012 82,194 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 17 Dec 2011 77,513 miles

Exhaust heatshield insecure

Fail 16 Dec 2011 77,512 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

Exhaust heatshield insecure

Pass 5 Jan 2011 72,665 miles

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

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

Rear exhaust heatshield insecure

Fail 5 Jan 2011 72,665 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Rear exhaust heatshield insecure

Pass 8 Dec 2009 67,341 miles
Pass 6 Jan 2009 63,510 miles

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

Pass 4 Jan 2008 60,566 miles
Pass 3 Jan 2007 56,733 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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M181 SWR is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 M181 SWR, 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 M181 SWR?

You can check the full history of M181 SWR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M181 SWR registered?

M181 SWR is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 6 December 1998.

Is M181 SWR safe to buy?

The MOT history for M181 SWR shows 21 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 M181 SWR 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 M181 SWR. 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.