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P81 GVN

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Mar 2015
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

197,304 mi
Last recorded197,304 miles
Recorded on26 Mar 2014
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP81 GVN
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

8 pass 5 fail
Pass 26 Mar 2014 197,304 miles

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

Fail 24 Mar 2014 197,304 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is excessively worn (3.1.5)

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

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 22 Mar 2013 178,914 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 22 Mar 2013 178,913 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 10 Nov 2011 173,039 miles

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 10 Nov 2011 173,039 miles

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

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

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 24 Sep 2010 169,736 miles

FRONT TO REAR METAL FUEL PIPE RUSTED BUT NOT LEAKING.

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

Fail 24 Sep 2010 169,736 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is excessively worn (3.1.5)

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

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

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

FRONT TO REAR METAL FUEL PIPE RUSTED BUT NOT LEAKING.

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

Pass 22 Jan 2009 148,120 miles
Fail 14 Jan 2009 148,119 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front registration plate dirty (6.3.1d)

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Rear registration plate dirty (6.3.1d)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 21 Dec 2007 122,499 miles

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

Pass 20 Dec 2006 110,516 miles
Pass 23 Dec 2005 99,405 miles

Both F/wipers smearing slighty

N/S/F Anti-roll bar link rod, top ball joint boot split

Nearside Rear Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside 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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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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P81 GVN is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 P81 GVN, 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 P81 GVN?

You can check the full history of P81 GVN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P81 GVN registered?

P81 GVN is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 7 January 1997.

Is P81 GVN safe to buy?

The MOT history for P81 GVN shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P81 GVN 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 P81 GVN. 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.