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P197 ENU

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Nov 2022
Tests18 (14 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

256,020 mi
Last recorded256,020 miles
Recorded on28 Oct 2022
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP197 ENU
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
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

14 pass 4 fail
Fail 28 Oct 2022 256,020 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 12 Oct 2021 250,145 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Fail 12 Oct 2021 250,145 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 22 Oct 2020 245,372 miles

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Pass 28 Oct 2019 242,078 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 15 Oct 2019 241,913 miles

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

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 Oct 2018 237,957 miles

Handbrake Effort On Limits

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Oct 2018 237,895 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Oct 2017 235,050 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Inner Sill To Floor (2.4.A.3)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 3 Nov 2016 230,807 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Slight Corrosion Fuel Pipes

Pass 8 Jul 2014 230,496 miles

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

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 4 Feb 2013 230,416 miles

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

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

Pass 2 Feb 2012 228,685 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2011 226,900 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 21 Jan 2010 217,596 miles
Pass 14 May 2008 197,270 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2007 179,220 miles
Pass 21 Dec 2005 164,011 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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P197 ENU is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 P197 ENU, 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 P197 ENU?

You can check the full history of P197 ENU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P197 ENU registered?

P197 ENU is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 March 1997.

Is P197 ENU safe to buy?

The MOT history for P197 ENU shows 18 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P197 ENU 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 P197 ENU. 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.