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P401 CFV

1997 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Aug 2015
Tests16 (9 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate56.3%

Mileage

167,096 mi
Last recorded167,096 miles
Recorded on18 Aug 2014
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

RegistrationP401 CFV
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourGreen
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 7 fail
Pass 18 Aug 2014 167,096 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2013 165,743 miles

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

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 27 Feb 2013 165,743 miles

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 12 Mar 2012 157,682 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 9 Mar 2012 157,615 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Rear exhaust heatshield insecure

Pass 14 Mar 2011 152,008 miles

Nearside Front Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 11 Mar 2011 152,008 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 15 Dec 2009 149,087 miles
Fail 14 Dec 2009 149,087 miles

Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Rear Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Pass 26 Jul 2008 145,027 miles

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 19 Jul 2008 144,923 miles

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)

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

Pass 31 May 2007 134,289 miles

o/s front tyre near to 1.6mm

Fail 5 Jun 2006 130,162 miles

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 5 Jun 2006 130,162 miles

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

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

Pass 25 Apr 2006 129,079 miles
Fail 22 Apr 2006 129,078 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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

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

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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P401 CFV is a 1997 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.3%.

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 P401 CFV, 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 P401 CFV?

You can check the full history of P401 CFV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P401 CFV registered?

P401 CFV is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 24 February 1997.

Is P401 CFV safe to buy?

The MOT history for P401 CFV shows 16 tests with a 56.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P401 CFV 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 P401 CFV. 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.