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R138 GFB

1998 BMW 523

Black Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Sep 2020
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

406,513 mi
Last recorded406,513 miles
Recorded on25 Sep 2020
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR138 GFB
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBlack
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

14 pass 9 fail
Fail 25 Sep 2020 406,513 miles

Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced both sides (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower suspension arm has play in ball joint

Oil leak, but not excessive from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Park brake only just reached required limit

Pass 4 Jun 2019 384,956 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front tyres worn on inner edges (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 3 Jun 2019 384,955 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front tyres worn on inner edges (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Nail in tyre ()

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jun 2018 373,683 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Tyres worn on inner edge

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jun 2017 358,182 miles

Body has slight corrosion Rear sills (6.1.B.2)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Front tyres worn on edges

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

Fail 12 Jun 2017 358,180 miles

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

Nearside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged deteriorated (4.1.D.1e)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (4.1.D.1e)

Body has slight corrosion Rear sills (6.1.B.2)

Exhaust heat shield insecure

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Front tyres worn on edges

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

Nearside Rear Parking brake efficiency only just met

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

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

Pass 22 Jun 2016 345,708 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

rear discs worn

rear pads worn low

Fail 20 Jun 2016 345,708 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint rear arm (2.4.G.2)

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

rear discs worn

rear pads worn low

Pass 8 Jun 2015 326,164 miles

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

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

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

misting of oil from power steering rack and resivoir

Fail 8 Jun 2015 326,164 miles

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 Front Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

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

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

misting of oil from power steering rack and resivoir

Pass 9 Jun 2014 298,650 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

bonnet release handle missing

Pass 10 Jun 2013 270,761 miles

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

Oil leak

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

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 3 Jun 2013 269,946 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

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

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 6 Jun 2012 256,411 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

Fail 1 Jun 2012 256,411 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Jun 2011 232,942 miles

bonnet pull lever in door pocket

both front and rear number plates worn just ok for mot

both front wheel centre caps missing

front brake discs very worn pads approx 80% worn

offside front tyre worn and slightly out of shape on inner edge (255/60/15)

oil leak from engine

various stone chips in windscreen

Fail 27 Apr 2011 232,922 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

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

bonnet pull lever broken lever in door pocket

both front and rear number plates worn just ok for mot

front brake discs very worn pads approx 80% worn

offside front tyre worn and slightly out of shape on inner edge (225/60/15)

oil leak from top of engine and leaking over the exhaust manifold

various stone chips in windscreen

Pass 21 Apr 2010 228,136 miles

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

front number plate worn

offside front tyre slighty out of shape (225/60/15v)

various chips in windscreen

Pass 28 Apr 2009 218,862 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2008 194,790 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2007 172,998 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2007 172,998 miles

Nearside Front Radius arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

N/S handbrake cable outer casing worn.

Weep from rear axle.

Pass 27 Apr 2006 157,169 miles

Both front tyres very low on inner edges (225/60x15).

Heat shield around rear exhaust box insicure.

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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R138 GFB is a 1998 BMW 523 in Black with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

Across all 1998 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.9% with a typical mileage of 117,395 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 R138 GFB, 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 28 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 R138 GFB?

You can check the full history of R138 GFB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R138 GFB registered?

R138 GFB is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 24 April 1998.

Is R138 GFB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R138 GFB shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R138 GFB 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 R138 GFB. 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.