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R23 VKJ

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires23 Sep 2022
Tests17 (16 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate94.1%

Mileage

200,037 mi
Last recorded200,037 miles
Recorded on24 Sep 2021
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR23 VKJ
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
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

16 pass 1 fail
Pass 24 Sep 2021 200,037 miles

Advice on front and rear brake pads

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 21 Sep 2020 198,143 miles

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Fail 5 Sep 2020 198,132 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 19 Aug 2019 197,015 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 28 Aug 2018 194,450 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 26 Aug 2017 190,253 miles

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

Pass 2 Nov 2016 187,773 miles

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

Pass 16 Oct 2015 182,709 miles

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

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

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

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

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

Pass 28 Oct 2014 176,334 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2013 169,009 miles

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

Pass 22 Oct 2012 164,830 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2011 163,345 miles

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

Pass 5 Oct 2010 163,236 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2009 162,303 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2008 161,135 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2007 160,434 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2006 159,412 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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R23 VKJ is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 94.1%.

Across all 1997 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 121,619 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 R23 VKJ, 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 29 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 R23 VKJ?

You can check the full history of R23 VKJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R23 VKJ registered?

R23 VKJ is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 15 October 1997.

Is R23 VKJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R23 VKJ shows 17 tests with a 94.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R23 VKJ 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 R23 VKJ. 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.