CarVerify

Free Car Check

R171 WLC

1998 BMW 523

Grey Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 May 2013
Tests13 (7 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

168,023 mi
Last recorded168,023 miles
Recorded on5 Jun 2013
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR171 WLC
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGrey
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

7 pass 6 fail
Fail 5 Jun 2013 168,023 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

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

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 May 2012 159,361 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

air bag light on

Fail 30 May 2012 159,360 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nail in offside rear tyre

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

air bag light on

Pass 31 May 2011 144,906 miles

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 31 May 2011 144,906 miles

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

Nearside Inner Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 1 Jun 2010 131,949 miles

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

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

Fail 1 Jun 2010 131,949 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Jul 2009 120,779 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2008 110,669 miles

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

Nail in rear tyre

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 29 Aug 2007 98,151 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2007 98,151 miles

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

Pass 25 Aug 2006 84,848 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2006 84,844 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

R171 WLC is a 1998 BMW 523 in Grey with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

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 R171 WLC, 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 R171 WLC?

You can check the full history of R171 WLC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R171 WLC registered?

R171 WLC is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 29 January 1998.

Is R171 WLC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R171 WLC shows 13 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R171 WLC 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 R171 WLC. 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.