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R230 UKP

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Sep 2026
Tests33 (21 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

142,827 mi
Last recorded142,827 miles
Recorded on11 Sep 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR230 UKP
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,500cc

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

21 pass 12 fail
Pass 11 Sep 2025 142,827 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 23 Sep 2024 139,478 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2024 139,476 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 20 Sep 2023 135,484 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 20 Sep 2022 131,993 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Sep 2022 131,991 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust silencer insecure Back box (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Near jacking point area (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Near jacking point area (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Sep 2021 130,847 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 23 Sep 2021 130,847 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 18 Sep 2020 129,959 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2020 129,958 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 18 Sep 2019 128,856 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2018 127,510 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 11 Sep 2017 126,251 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2017 126,251 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 20 Sep 2016 125,162 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2016 125,037 miles

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

Pass 16 Sep 2015 123,746 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear handbrake sticking

Fail 16 Sep 2015 123,746 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)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 21 Aug 2014 122,566 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 Aug 2013 121,450 miles

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

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

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

front both sides discs got lip onit

Fail 21 Aug 2013 121,450 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

front both sides discs got lip onit

Pass 23 Aug 2012 119,208 miles

Brake pipes starting to corrode

Pass 20 Aug 2011 112,460 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 7 Sep 2010 102,549 miles

O/S/FRONT HEADLAMP SLIGHTLY WET BUT IMAGE AND INTENSITY STILL OK

Fail 4 Sep 2010 102,411 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Aug 2009 92,052 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2009 92,052 miles

Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

Pass 29 Aug 2008 91,009 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2008 91,009 miles

Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Pass 15 Sep 2007 82,949 miles

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

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

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

Pass 2 Sep 2006 72,495 miles
Fail 2 Sep 2006 72,495 miles

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

Pass 20 Sep 2005 63,180 miles

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

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R230 UKP is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 R230 UKP, 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 R230 UKP?

You can check the full history of R230 UKP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R230 UKP registered?

R230 UKP is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 2 October 1998.

Is R230 UKP safe to buy?

The MOT history for R230 UKP shows 33 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R230 UKP 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 R230 UKP. 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.