CarVerify

Free Car Check

P21 CAV

1996 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Jul 2017
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

139,573 mi
Last recorded139,573 miles
Recorded on14 Jul 2016
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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP21 CAV
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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 14 Jul 2016 139,573 miles

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

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

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Fail 8 Jul 2016 139,573 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Pass 2 Jul 2015 134,156 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

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

Tow ball/hitch not fitted at time of test

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 30 Jun 2015 134,156 miles

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)

Offside 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)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

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

Tow ball/hitch not fitted at time of test

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 9 Jun 2015 134,131 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Driver's airbag obviously defective (5.4.1)

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Exhaust engine idle speed too high (7.3.D.1)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 5 Mar 2014 129,492 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

fuel pipes corroded

rear brakes binding slightly

rear suspension upper arms dust covers masked in silicone but preventing ingress of dirt and water

Fail 4 Mar 2014 129,486 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

fuel pipes corroded

Pass 5 Mar 2013 123,087 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Jun 2010 117,204 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2010 117,177 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 6 Jul 2009 113,627 miles
Fail 6 Jul 2009 113,627 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Pass 7 Jul 2008 99,274 miles

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

Pass 5 Jul 2007 88,192 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2006 76,762 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P21 CAV is a 1996 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 P21 CAV, 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 P21 CAV?

You can check the full history of P21 CAV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P21 CAV registered?

P21 CAV is a 1996 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1996.

Is P21 CAV safe to buy?

The MOT history for P21 CAV shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P21 CAV 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 P21 CAV. 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.