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P121 ACG

1997 BMW 523

Grey Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires10 Feb 2017
Tests23 (10 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate43.5%

Mileage

191,222 mi
Last recorded191,222 miles
Recorded on26 Oct 2018
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP121 ACG
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourGrey
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

10 pass 13 fail
Fail 26 Oct 2018 191,222 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded o/s and n/s main (1.1.11 (c))

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

Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect o/s and n/s (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength o/s and n/s sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Driver's door likely to open inadvertently or not remain closed (6.2.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm o/s and n/s (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 15 Feb 2017 191,220 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm o/s and n/s (4.1.E.1)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

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

Pass 11 Feb 2016 186,881 miles

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

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

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

Fail 10 Feb 2016 186,881 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Pass 21 Jan 2015 183,102 miles

Oil leak

Fail 16 Jan 2015 183,039 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Oil leak

Fail 17 Dec 2014 182,941 miles

Driver's airbag obviously defective (5.4.1)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking from a joint (2.3.3b)

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

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

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

Pass 21 Dec 2013 179,148 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 19 Dec 2013 179,144 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

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

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

Pass 7 Nov 2012 168,427 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

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

offside front tyre slight wear to inner edge

Fail 24 Oct 2012 168,101 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Shock absorber casing damaged externally so the unit does not function (2.7.2a)

Offside Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

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

offside front tyre slight wear to inner edge

Fail 13 Oct 2012 167,746 miles

Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber casing damaged externally so the unit does not function (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Shock absorber casing damaged externally so the unit does not function (2.7.2a)

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

brake pipes corroded in various places unable to fully see all parts of pipes

nearside rea brake binding slightly

nearside rear inner sill corroded

offside front tyre worn on inner edge

ofside headlamp pattern is blurry

slight front brake judder

Pass 13 Oct 2011 154,749 miles

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

Fail 1 Oct 2011 154,234 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Pass 5 Oct 2010 145,385 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2010 145,333 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Pass 8 Sep 2009 140,926 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

front number plate cracked

oil leak from rear diff

very slight brake bind n/s/r

Fail 7 Sep 2009 140,923 miles

Centre Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

front number plate cracked

oil leak from rear diff

very slight brake bind n/s/r

Pass 16 Sep 2008 140,895 miles

o/s and n/s rear edge of sill rusting

rear brake pads low

Fail 15 Sep 2008 140,895 miles

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken (3.1.5)

o/s and n/s rear edge of sill rusting

rear brake pads low

Pass 22 Sep 2007 132,645 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2007 132,593 miles

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

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

o/s and n/s rear inner sill rusty

o/s and n/s rear metal brake pipes rusty

o/s mirror glass cracked

Pass 23 Sep 2006 121,748 miles

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

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

P121 ACG is a 1997 BMW 523 in Grey with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 43.5%.

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 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 P121 ACG, 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 P121 ACG?

You can check the full history of P121 ACG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P121 ACG registered?

P121 ACG is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 30 January 1997.

Is P121 ACG safe to buy?

The MOT history for P121 ACG shows 23 tests with a 43.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P121 ACG 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 P121 ACG. 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.