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R235 BBY

1998 BMW 523

Beige Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests25 (21 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate84%

Mileage

161,263 mi
Last recorded161,263 miles
Recorded on24 Apr 2026
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

RegistrationR235 BBY
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBeige
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

21 pass 4 fail
Pass 24 Apr 2026 161,263 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Apr 2025 161,234 miles
Fail 30 Apr 2025 161,231 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 1 May 2024 161,173 miles
Fail 6 Apr 2024 161,162 miles

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

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 16 Mar 2023 158,577 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2022 156,590 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Mar 2021 154,370 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Mar 2020 153,228 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2019 150,790 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2019 150,789 miles

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 28 Feb 2018 148,249 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2017 144,365 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2016 140,552 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

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

Fail 2 Feb 2016 140,550 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

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

Pass 10 Dec 2014 135,233 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2013 129,787 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2012 126,227 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2011 122,547 miles
Pass 27 Sep 2010 117,413 miles
Pass 5 May 2010 115,388 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2008 110,377 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2007 93,425 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2006 82,844 miles
Pass 3 May 2006 78,729 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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R235 BBY is a 1998 BMW 523 in Beige with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R235 BBY, 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 R235 BBY?

You can check the full history of R235 BBY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R235 BBY registered?

R235 BBY is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 7 May 1998.

Is R235 BBY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R235 BBY shows 25 tests with a 84% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R235 BBY 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 R235 BBY. 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.