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P281 AHO

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jul 2018
Tests24 (12 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

143,950 mi
Last recorded143,950 miles
Recorded on4 Jul 2017
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP281 AHO
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

12 pass 12 fail
Pass 4 Jul 2017 143,950 miles

Aftermarket plastic trays zip tied into place not allowing inspection.

Body has slight corrosion underside (6.1.B.2)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

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

Fail 4 Jul 2017 143,950 miles

Aftermarket plastic trays zip tied into place not allowing inspection.

Body has slight corrosion underside (6.1.B.2)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Rear Stop lamp not working Both (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 13 Jul 2016 136,556 miles

Nearside Front Alloy wheel outer rim badly damaged

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Fail 12 Jul 2016 136,554 miles

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

Nearside Front Alloy wheel outer rim badly damaged

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Fail 10 Jun 2016 135,515 miles

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

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

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

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

Fail 4 May 2016 136,503 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)

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

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak Adjustable coil over shock. Aftermarket (2.7.3)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear Brake pad(s) insecure Pads have delaminated (3.5.1g) DANGEROUS

Bonnet doesn't open therefore under bonnet checks imcomplete

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin 2-3mm (3.5.1g)

Rear Lower Suspension bushes have deteriorated gaiters both sides

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

Pass 22 Jan 2015 134,399 miles

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

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

Fail 19 Jan 2015 134,595 miles

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

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

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

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

Pass 8 Jan 2014 132,247 miles

Modified dampers fitted to car.

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Passenger side inner splash shield broken but is secure.

Plastic trims fitted to side sills.

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 8 Jan 2014 132,246 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Modified dampers fitted to car.

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Passenger side inner splash shield broken but is secure.

Plastic trims fitted to side sills.

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 2 Jan 2013 129,757 miles

modified suspension fitted front and rear

nearside rear metal brake pipe slightly corroded and greased up

slight exhaust blow from centre to rear silencer

stone chips on windscreen zone A & B

traction control light on

windows tinted

Fail 20 Dec 2012 129,752 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)

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 Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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 Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.3.1)

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

modified suspension fitted front and rear

slight exhaust blow from centre to rear silencer

stone chips on windscreen zone A & B

traction control light on

windows tinted

Fail 20 Dec 2011 125,012 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Performance exhaust fitted.

Rear metal brake pipes corroded.

Suspension modified by lowering.

Traction control warning light on dash.

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

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

Pass 20 Dec 2011 125,012 miles

Performance exhaust fitted.

Rear metal brake pipes corroded.

Suspension modified by lowering.

Traction control warning light on dash.

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

Pass 12 Jan 2011 120,389 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Drivers side rear lower hub bush gaiter split.

Front and rear suspension has been modified by lowering.

New upper arm fitted to p[assenger side rear.

Plastic covers fitted to inner door shuts.

Plastic under trays fitted to engine and transmission.

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear subframe bushes have slight movement.

Slight play in both front inner steering rack balls.

Traction control warning light on dash.

Washer very weak.

Fail 6 Jan 2011 120,387 miles

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Drivers side rear lower hub bush gaiter split.

Front and rear suspension has been modified by lowering.

New upper arm fitted to p[assenger side rear.

Plastic covers fitted to inner door shuts.

Plastic under trays fitted to engine and transmission.

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Rear subframe bushes have slight movement.

Slight play in both front inner steering rack balls.

Traction control warning light on dash.

Washer very weak.

Pass 2 Dec 2009 111,461 miles
Fail 28 Nov 2009 111,423 miles

Nearside Front An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front An item not tested (Manual)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) DANGEROUS

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

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)

brake warning lamp staying on

Propshaft component defective

Fail 9 Jun 2008 101,658 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 9 Jun 2008 101,658 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2007 93,099 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

nsr handbrake performance lower than osr

Pass 14 Jun 2006 82,266 miles
Fail 14 Jun 2006 82,266 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 20 Dec 2005 80,548 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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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.

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P281 AHO is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 P281 AHO, 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 P281 AHO?

You can check the full history of P281 AHO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P281 AHO registered?

P281 AHO is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P281 AHO safe to buy?

The MOT history for P281 AHO shows 24 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P281 AHO 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 P281 AHO. 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.