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P421 PLP

1997 BMW 523

Black Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 May 2015
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

234,059 mi
Last recorded234,059 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2014
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP421 PLP
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourBlack
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 28 Apr 2014 234,059 miles

Corrosion to nearside front wing

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Slight movement in nearside of steering rack

Fail 29 Apr 2013 222,732 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

small play in nearside of steering rack

Pass 29 Apr 2013 222,732 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

small play in nearside of steering rack

Fail 22 Apr 2013 222,444 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

small play in nearside of steering rack

Pass 26 Apr 2012 210,747 miles

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

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

Pass 28 Apr 2011 196,521 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2011 196,146 miles

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

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

Pass 4 May 2010 179,841 miles

rear brake pipes replaced with flexible hoses

Pass 30 Apr 2009 164,655 miles

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

Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

front registration plate cracked

Fail 30 Apr 2009 164,655 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

front registration plate cracked

Fail 21 Mar 2009 164,488 miles

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

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 Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c) DANGEROUS

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 14 Mar 2008 159,435 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2007 155,171 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2007 155,134 miles

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

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

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

Pass 3 Mar 2006 151,068 miles

brake % low on hand brake advise checking out

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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P421 PLP is a 1997 BMW 523 in Black with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 P421 PLP, 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 P421 PLP?

You can check the full history of P421 PLP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P421 PLP registered?

P421 PLP is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 8 January 1997.

Is P421 PLP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P421 PLP 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 P421 PLP 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 P421 PLP. 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.