CarVerify

Free Car Check

P359 PLR

1997 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Oct 2011
Tests10 (5 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

121,279 mi
Last recorded121,279 miles
Recorded on9 Oct 2010
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationP359 PLR
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

5 pass 5 fail
Pass 9 Oct 2010 121,279 miles

Coolant leak

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

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

Oil leak

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

Fail 8 Oct 2010

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

Coolant leak

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

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

Oil leak

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

Fail 10 Sep 2010 121,650 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

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

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

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

Nearside front brake discs corroded on inside

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

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

Offside front brake discs corroded on inside

Fail 27 May 2009 116,577 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not in good working order (function impaired) (1.1.4a)

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

both front tyres worn on inner and outer edges close to limit

engine/transmission oil leaks

nearside rear exhaust shield loose

Pass 27 May 2009 116,577 miles

both front tyres worn on inner and outer edges close to limit

engine/transmission oil leaks

nearside rear exhaust shield loose

Pass 3 Jun 2008 112,160 miles
Pass 11 May 2007 108,994 miles
Fail 11 May 2007 108,976 miles

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

front tyres worn on inside edges. †o/s/r tyre worn 2mm & worn on inside edge. †n/s & o/s/f inner wings guards trims damaged & insecure.

Pass 12 May 2006 100,430 miles
Fail 12 May 2006 100,430 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

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

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

P359 PLR is a 1997 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 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 P359 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 P359 PLR?

You can check the full history of P359 PLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P359 PLR registered?

P359 PLR is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 23 June 1997.

Is P359 PLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for P359 PLR shows 10 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 P359 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 P359 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.