CarVerify

Free Car Check

R157 WLO

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires28 Sep 2017
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

115,209 mi
Last recorded115,209 miles
Recorded on12 Sep 2016
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 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

RegistrationR157 WLO
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

12 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Sep 2016 115,209 miles

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

Pass 18 Sep 2015 111,847 miles

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

Fail 15 Sep 2015 111,847 miles

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

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

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

Pass 8 Sep 2014 108,054 miles

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

Pass 20 Sep 2013 104,835 miles

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

Fail 17 Sep 2013 104,835 miles

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 13 Sep 2012 101,552 miles

Airbag Malfunction Lamp Illuminated

Fail 13 Sep 2012 101,552 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Upper 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 Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Airbag Malfunction Lamp Illuminated

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

Pass 26 Sep 2011 97,692 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2011 97,663 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 29 Sep 2010 93,319 miles
Fail 28 Sep 2010 93,301 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Sep 2009 87,902 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2008 82,703 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2008 82,696 miles

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

Pass 26 Sep 2007 77,172 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2006 69,892 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 31 Aug 2006 69,892 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2005 64,125 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

R157 WLO is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

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 R157 WLO, 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 R157 WLO?

You can check the full history of R157 WLO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R157 WLO registered?

R157 WLO is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 8 May 1998.

Is R157 WLO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R157 WLO shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R157 WLO 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 R157 WLO. 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.