CarVerify

Free Car Check

P988 JEC

1996 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Apr 2023
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

127,870 mi
Last recorded127,870 miles
Recorded on5 Apr 2022
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

RegistrationP988 JEC
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1996
ColourBlue
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

17 pass 10 fail
Pass 5 Apr 2022 127,870 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2021 126,842 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2019 125,696 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Sep 2019 125,675 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Aug 2018 124,299 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 28 Aug 2018 124,280 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Sep 2017 122,192 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Fail 31 Aug 2017 122,134 miles

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

Offside Rear Inner Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 2 Sep 2016 118,495 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2016 118,480 miles

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 1 Sep 2015 113,409 miles

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

Fail 27 Aug 2015 113,345 miles

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

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

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

Pass 1 Sep 2014 106,333 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2014 106,271 miles

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

Offside Inner Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

near side rear tyre cut on inner wall but not to cords at time of test

Pass 29 Aug 2013 101,962 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2013 101,909 miles

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

Pass 31 Aug 2012 97,689 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2012 97,689 miles

Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2011 90,190 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2010 82,720 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2009 81,134 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2009 81,134 miles

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

Pass 26 Aug 2008 77,771 miles
Pass 21 Aug 2007 117,329 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2007 117,329 miles

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

Pass 17 Feb 2007 17,036 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2006 64,758 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)

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

P988 JEC is a 1996 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

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 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 P988 JEC, 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 P988 JEC?

You can check the full history of P988 JEC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P988 JEC registered?

P988 JEC is a 1996 BMW 523, first registered on 30 August 1996.

Is P988 JEC safe to buy?

The MOT history for P988 JEC shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P988 JEC 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 P988 JEC. 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.