CarVerify

Free Car Check

R228 SER

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Mar 2015
Tests9 (6 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

157,145 mi
Last recorded157,145 miles
Recorded on3 Mar 2014
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Above 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

RegistrationR228 SER
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

6 pass 3 fail
Pass 3 Mar 2014 157,145 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Oil leak

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 7 Mar 2013 141,597 miles

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

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Fail 4 Mar 2013 141,597 miles

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

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

Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 17 Mar 2012 136,001 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Pass 31 Mar 2011 133,215 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

rear brake discs pitted

Pass 11 Nov 2009 126,549 miles

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 5 Nov 2009 126,548 miles

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

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 12 Apr 2006 65,473 miles

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

child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Fail 12 Apr 2006 65,473 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

R228 SER is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 R228 SER, 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 R228 SER?

You can check the full history of R228 SER by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R228 SER registered?

R228 SER is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 2 October 1998.

Is R228 SER safe to buy?

The MOT history for R228 SER shows 9 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R228 SER 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 R228 SER. 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.