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N38 LHU

1996 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 Aug 2015
Tests16 (8 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

170,908 mi
Last recorded170,908 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2014
Typical for 1996 BMW 523123,198 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationN38 LHU
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1996
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

8 pass 8 fail
Pass 8 Aug 2014 170,908 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Offside Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Fail 6 Aug 2014 170,866 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (3.6.G.2) DANGEROUS

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Offside Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 8 Aug 2013 161,284 miles

petrol pipes rusty

Fail 29 Jul 2013 161,284 miles

All position lamps adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Nearside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

petrol pipes rusty

Pass 27 Jul 2012 154,230 miles

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

Oil leak

Fail 19 May 2012 154,180 miles

Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

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

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

Nearside Inner 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)

Oil leak

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

Pass 1 Jun 2011 150,932 miles

Both rear brake discs corroded

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 27 May 2011 150,928 miles

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Both rear brake discs corroded

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

Osf disc badly worn

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 30 Mar 2011 150,859 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

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

Nearside Front Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 23 Mar 2010 147,747 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 19 Mar 2010 147,744 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Mar 2009 145,614 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2009 145,611 miles

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Pass 3 Apr 2007 138,854 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2007 138,854 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2005 130,716 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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N38 LHU is a 1996 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1996 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.0% with a typical mileage of 123,198 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 N38 LHU, 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 30 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 N38 LHU?

You can check the full history of N38 LHU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N38 LHU registered?

N38 LHU is a 1996 BMW 523, first registered on 18 April 1996.

Is N38 LHU safe to buy?

The MOT history for N38 LHU shows 16 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N38 LHU 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 N38 LHU. 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.