CarVerify

Free Car Check

P789 JNO

1996 BMW 523

Red Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Apr 2027
Tests22 (16 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

90,852 mi
Last recorded90,852 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 1996 BMW 523123,198 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

RegistrationP789 JNO
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1996
ColourRed
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

16 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 90,852 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2025 90,849 miles

Emissions unable to be completed engine over heating (8.2.1.2 (d))

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt both (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt main arm (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt short link (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt main arm (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt short link (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Windscreen washer not working both (3.5 (a))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases sleeve joint (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 19 Jun 2020 90,480 miles

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 9 May 2019 85,391 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 21 May 2018 84,339 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 21 May 2018 84,339 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 24 May 2017 83,832 miles

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

Fail 21 Apr 2017 83,832 miles

Power steering component(s) leaking steering rack (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 26 Apr 2016 83,389 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Fail 26 Apr 2016 83,389 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.2.1f)

Pass 6 May 2015 82,963 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 12 May 2014 82,068 miles
Pass 17 May 2013 79,389 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 Apr 2012 74,826 miles

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 27 Apr 2011 67,299 miles

AIM NSF####MAX

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

Pass 17 May 2010 63,106 miles

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

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

Fail 14 May 2010 63,086 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 May 2009 59,139 miles

N/S parking brake performance poor

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)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 21 Aug 2008 57,893 miles

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

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)

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

Fail 19 Aug 2008 57,893 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 7 Jun 2007 50,511 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2006 47,109 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

P789 JNO is a 1996 BMW 523 in Red with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1996 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.0% with a typical mileage of 123,198 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 P789 JNO, 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 30 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 P789 JNO?

You can check the full history of P789 JNO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P789 JNO registered?

P789 JNO is a 1996 BMW 523, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P789 JNO safe to buy?

The MOT history for P789 JNO shows 22 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P789 JNO 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 P789 JNO. 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.