MOT Status
ValidMileage
201,981 miSignificantly above average — investigate
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Vehicle Details
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50+ data pointsMOT History
Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases sleeve leaking (6.1.2 (a))
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))
Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))
Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))
Offside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush likely to become detached outer rear bush retaining clip has fallen off and bush has started to slide out of the arm (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS
Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases sleeve leaking (6.1.2 (a))
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))
Offside Rear Inner Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))
Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded lower rubber seat is split (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush likely to become detached rear bush pulled out of hub (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS
Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))
Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded lower rubber seat is split (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective split end (3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective split end (3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))
Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))
Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
Rear Fuel pipe leaking steel pipe rotted (6.1.3 (b) (i))
Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
Metal fuel pipes corroded by fuel tank
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Upper front (5.3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Nut maybe loose (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt upper rear (5.3.4 (b) (ii))
Metal fuel pipes corroded by fuel tank
Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Upper front (5.3.4 (b) (i))
Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective faded (4.1.1 (b) (ii))
Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inside edge (5.2.3 (e))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Slight rusting on sills by both rear jacking points
Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))
Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))
Fuel pipe leaking at the rear steel pipe corroded (6.1.3 (b) (i))
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing and has a nail in it (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective faded (4.1.1 (b) (i))
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded
Nearside Front Brake hose excessively twisted (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
Nearside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))
Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded
Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (4.1.D.1e)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit inner edge worn bald (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit inner edge worn bald (4.1.E.1)
Fuel pipe slightly damaged main fuel pipes very corroded (7.2.2)
Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced very discoloured (1.7.5a)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit thin on inside edge (4.1.E.1)
fuel pump very noisy
Brake pipe excessively corroded both front to rear pipes (3.6.B.2c)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)
Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt both rear lower hub pin gaiter's (2.4.G.2)
Fuel pipe slightly damaged main fuel pipes very corroded (7.2.2)
Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced very discoloured (1.7.5a)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit thin on inside edge (4.1.E.1)
fuel pump very noisy
washers only just good enough
wipers smeary
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
near side front fog light glass is broken
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
near side front fog light glass is broken
Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Nearside Headlamp levelling device inoperative (1.7.2)
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)
Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)
Offside passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
near side front fog light glass is broken
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)
Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)
Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)
Air bag light on
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Signs of oil on steering rack gaiters possible leak
Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
OFFSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP CONDENSATION ON LENS BOTH HEADLAMP PATTERNS POOR
OFFSIDE REAR HANDBRAKE EFFORT SLIGHTLY LOW
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
OFFSIDE FRONT HEADLAMP CONDENSATION ON LENS BOTH HEADLAMP PATTERNS POOR
OFFSIDE REAR HANDBRAKE EFFORT SLIGHTLY LOW
Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
slight play both outer ends of steering rack
Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)
Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)
Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) DANGEROUS
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)
How Reliable is the BMW 523?
Based on 254,660 MOT tests across 20,979 vehicles.
Top MOT Failure Points
Don't risk it. Know before you buy.
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.
P181 LHK is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 39 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.
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 P181 LHK, 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 P181 LHK?
You can check the full history of P181 LHK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.
What year was P181 LHK registered?
P181 LHK is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 January 1997.
Is P181 LHK safe to buy?
The MOT history for P181 LHK shows 39 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.
Does P181 LHK 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 P181 LHK. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.
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