CarVerify

Free Car Check

P224 PLR

1997 BMW 523

Grey Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires20 Aug 2013
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

235,034 mi
Last recorded235,034 miles
Recorded on21 Aug 2012
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP224 PLR
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

7 pass 4 fail
Pass 21 Aug 2012 235,034 miles

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

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

Oil leak

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

air bag warning lamp on

Fail 20 Aug 2012 235,034 miles

Nearside Front Upper 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 Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

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

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

Oil leak

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

air bag warning lamp on

Pass 18 Jul 2011 227,208 miles

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

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

rear wiper torn

Pass 26 Jul 2010 218,256 miles

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

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

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

abs system not operating correct

air bag warning light on

floor fuel lines corroded

Fail 21 Jul 2010 218,251 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

abs system not operating correct

air bag warning light on

floor fuel lines corroded

Pass 30 Jul 2009 208,442 miles

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

`centre brake light has some light defect

play in n/s/f inner steering arm

Fail 30 Jul 2009 208,439 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

`centre brake light has some light defect

play in n/s/f inner steering arm

Pass 18 Jun 2008 196,171 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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

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

Rear subframe bushes deteriorated/perished.

Pass 29 Jun 2007 176,549 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2007 176,431 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.D.4)

Pass 7 Jul 2006 159,930 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

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

P224 PLR is a 1997 BMW 523 in Grey with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 P224 PLR, 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 P224 PLR?

You can check the full history of P224 PLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P224 PLR registered?

P224 PLR is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 15 May 1997.

Is P224 PLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for P224 PLR shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P224 PLR 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 P224 PLR. 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.