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R161 XAO

1997 BMW 525

Silver Diesel 2498cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires18 Jun 2016
Tests14 (11 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate78.6%

Mileage

234,788 mi
Last recorded234,788 miles
Recorded on19 Jun 2015
Typical for 1997 BMW 525141,402 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR161 XAO
MakeBMW
Model525
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,498cc

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

11 pass 3 fail
Pass 19 Jun 2015 234,788 miles
Pass 3 May 2014 229,006 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 May 2013 223,377 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Outer Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

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

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 1 Feb 2013 223,342 miles

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Air bag light stays on

Boot does not open

Both front to rear fuel pipes slightly corroded

Drivers door stiff to open from inside

Engine seems noisy

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Rear diff has slight oil leak

Fail 17 Feb 2012 213,487 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 17 Feb 2012 213,487 miles
Pass 11 Feb 2011 198,293 miles
Pass 15 Feb 2010 194,232 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2009 183,454 miles
Pass 22 Jan 2008 174,383 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 7 Feb 2007 165,371 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2007 164,419 miles

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

prop.shaft front yoke cracked.

Pass 18 Feb 2006 152,858 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2006 152,858 miles

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

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

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

How Reliable is the BMW 525?

Based on 724,963 MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles.

74.4%
Pass Rate
7,259
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
56,965
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,171
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,227
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,065
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 9,710
Full BMW 525 reliability report

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R161 XAO is a 1997 BMW 525 in Silver with a 2,498cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.6%.

Across all 1997 BMW 525 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 141,402 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 525 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,171 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R161 XAO, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 525 typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 525 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R161 XAO?

You can check the full history of R161 XAO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R161 XAO registered?

R161 XAO is a 1997 BMW 525, first registered on 1 November 1997.

Is R161 XAO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R161 XAO shows 14 tests with a 78.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R161 XAO 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 R161 XAO. 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.