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P478 TMJ

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Mar 2014
Tests14 (7 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

159,516 mi
Last recorded159,516 miles
Recorded on7 Mar 2013
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

RegistrationP478 TMJ
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

7 pass 7 fail
Pass 7 Mar 2013 159,516 miles
Fail 23 Feb 2013 159,502 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 8 Feb 2013 159,486 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 22 Dec 2011 154,233 miles

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

Fail 22 Dec 2011 154,233 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 21 Dec 2010 148,752 miles
Fail 21 Dec 2010 148,752 miles

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

Pass 23 Nov 2009 141,951 miles
Fail 23 Nov 2009 141,951 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Dec 2008 136,288 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2008 136,288 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 10 Dec 2007 128,884 miles
Fail 5 Dec 2007 128,884 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 19 Dec 2006 121,494 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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P478 TMJ is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 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 P478 TMJ, 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 P478 TMJ?

You can check the full history of P478 TMJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P478 TMJ registered?

P478 TMJ is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 18 June 1997.

Is P478 TMJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for P478 TMJ shows 14 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 P478 TMJ 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 P478 TMJ. 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.