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R197 DBU

1998 BMW 520

Black Petrol 1991cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 May 2011
Tests10 (6 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

129,118 mi
Last recorded129,118 miles
Recorded on15 May 2010
Typical for 1998 BMW 520121,173 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR197 DBU
MakeBMW
Model520
Year1998
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,991cc

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

6 pass 4 fail
Pass 15 May 2010 129,118 miles

Coolant leak

Front wipers are split but were still clearing screen at time of test.

Nearside Rear Upper Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside front steering trackrod gaiter is split but has no play in balljoint.

Nearside front suspension drop link rod gaiter is split but has no play.

Offside Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 12 May 2009 124,209 miles
Fail 8 May 2009 124,201 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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)

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

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

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

Pass 7 May 2008 118,794 miles
Fail 1 May 2008 118,792 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 7 Mar 2007 112,727 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2006 103,344 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2006 103,344 miles

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Pass 8 Jun 2005 101,395 miles
Fail 27 May 2005 101,384 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

How Reliable is the BMW 520?

Based on 1,661,806 MOT tests across 152,584 vehicles.

78.5%
Pass Rate
7,968
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
152,584
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,121
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 22,647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,724
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 15,884
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,720
Full BMW 520 reliability report

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R197 DBU is a 1998 BMW 520 in Black with a 1,991cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

Across all 1998 BMW 520 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.2% with a typical mileage of 121,173 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 520 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 47,121 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R197 DBU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 520 typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 28 years old, this BMW 520 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R197 DBU?

You can check the full history of R197 DBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R197 DBU registered?

R197 DBU is a 1998 BMW 520, first registered on 20 March 1998.

Is R197 DBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R197 DBU shows 10 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R197 DBU 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 R197 DBU. 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.