CarVerify

Free Car Check

P480 LAK

1997 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 Jun 2013
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

130,269 mi
Last recorded130,269 miles
Recorded on3 Jun 2013
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

RegistrationP480 LAK
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

7 pass 4 fail
Fail 3 Jun 2013 130,269 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

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

Pass 8 Jun 2012 124,793 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Fail 6 Jun 2012 124,700 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

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

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 Rear Brake hose excessively chafed (3.6.B.4d)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 25 May 2011 119,232 miles
Fail 24 May 2011 119,307 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 Front Fluid suspension unit leaking (2.4.D.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

o/s /r door handle broken.

Pass 29 May 2010 114,098 miles

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

Pass 16 May 2009 108,778 miles
Pass 30 May 2008 103,872 miles

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

Pass 23 Mar 2007 93,799 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2007 93,799 miles

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

Pass 17 Mar 2006 85,076 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

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

P480 LAK is a 1997 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 P480 LAK, 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 P480 LAK?

You can check the full history of P480 LAK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P480 LAK registered?

P480 LAK is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 23 April 1997.

Is P480 LAK safe to buy?

The MOT history for P480 LAK shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P480 LAK 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 P480 LAK. 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.