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R140 KAN

1997 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2300cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests12 (9 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

207,859 mi
Last recorded207,859 miles
Recorded on29 May 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR140 KAN
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,300cc

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

9 pass 3 fail
Pass 29 May 2026 207,859 miles
Fail 11 May 2026 207,419 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 29 May 2025 204,301 miles

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 22 May 2024 201,122 miles
Fail 9 May 2024 200,763 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 5 May 2023 193,063 miles

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 13 May 2022 185,244 miles

Nearside Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 6 May 2021 180,817 miles

Offside Front Brake hose slightly chafed Slight flat stop on brake hose (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Front suspension arm ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 28 Apr 2021 180,808 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively twisted (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Steering locking device ineffective Track rod end locking washer broken (2.1.3 (d))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly chafed Slight flat stop on brake hose (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Front suspension arm ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 21 May 2020 178,327 miles
Pass 8 May 2019 175,966 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Feb 2018 174,114 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

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R140 KAN is a 1997 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 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 R140 KAN, 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 R140 KAN?

You can check the full history of R140 KAN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R140 KAN registered?

R140 KAN is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 27 November 1997.

Is R140 KAN safe to buy?

The MOT history for R140 KAN shows 12 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R140 KAN 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 R140 KAN. 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.