CarVerify

Free Car Check

R23 WGM

1998 BMW 5 Series

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Jan 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

123,779 mi
Last recorded123,779 miles
Recorded on22 Jan 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 5 Series122,000 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationR23 WGM
MakeBMW
Model5 Series
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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 22 Jan 2026 123,779 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Jan 2026 123,776 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Nearside Front Anti-lock braking system wiring excessively damaged (1.6 (d))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Offside Front Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively (1.6 (d))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jan 2025 121,997 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively (1.6 (d))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive facing panel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively (1.6 (d))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 3 Jan 2024 120,124 miles

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively (1.6 (d))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Pass 13 Feb 2023 118,271 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brake pad wiring outer insulation cracked/split

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 9 Feb 2023 118,258 miles

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brake pad wiring outer insulation cracked/split

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 17 Jan 2023 118,188 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Seat belt buckle missing possible under seat (7.1.2 (d))

both fuel tank straps starting to corrode

Pass 6 Jan 2022 116,186 miles
Fail 5 Jan 2022 116,186 miles

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

Pass 7 Jan 2021 114,116 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2020 111,684 miles
Fail 7 Jan 2020 111,684 miles

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 8 Jan 2019 108,411 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2018 104,514 miles

Front Tyres starting to get low on tread

Rear Tyres starting to get low on tread

Fail 11 Jan 2018 104,514 miles

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

Front Tyres starting to get low on tread

Rear Tyres starting to get low on tread

Pass 12 Jan 2017 101,301 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2016 97,115 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2015 93,073 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2014 89,486 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2013 85,709 miles

rear brake pads starting to get low

Pass 20 Jan 2012 81,594 miles
Pass 14 Jan 2011 77,569 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2010 73,681 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2009 69,230 miles
Pass 8 Jan 2008 63,821 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2007 57,738 miles

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

Pass 16 Jan 2006 50,393 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 5 Series?

Based on 944,163 MOT tests across 122,930 vehicles.

80.5%
Pass Rate
8,163
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
122,930
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,557
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 14,960
Brake pipe excessively corroded 12,202
parking brake recording little or no effort 7,953
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 7,589
Full BMW 5 Series 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

R23 WGM is a 1998 BMW 5 Series in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

Across all 1998 BMW 5 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.6% with a typical mileage of 122,000 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 5 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 25,557 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R23 WGM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 5 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 28 years old, this BMW 5 Series is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R23 WGM?

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

What year was R23 WGM registered?

R23 WGM is a 1998 BMW 5 Series, first registered on 26 January 1998.

Is R23 WGM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R23 WGM shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R23 WGM 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 WGM. 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.