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R243 JPK

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Mar 2027
Tests20 (16 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

112,320 mi
Last recorded112,320 miles
Recorded on21 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR243 JPK
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 4 fail
Pass 21 Feb 2026 112,320 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2025 112,025 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2024 110,348 miles

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

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

condensation in both headlamps

Pass 1 Mar 2023 109,607 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material marked in yellow (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 21 Feb 2022 106,668 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Condensation in both headlights

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (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 3 Mar 2021 104,624 miles

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

chip in front windscreen

moisture around offside front power steering rack gaiter

nearside & offside rear brake hoses corroding

offside rear tyre perishing

oil leak lower engine area

Fail 26 Feb 2021 104,604 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low internals not connected lamp / bulb holder insecure (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

chip in front windscreen

moisture around offside front power steering rack gaiter

nearside & offside rear brake hoses corroding

offside rear tyre perishing

oil leak lower engine area

Pass 18 Feb 2020 102,177 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2019 101,616 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2015 98,734 miles
Pass 6 May 2014 95,222 miles

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

Fail 2 May 2014 95,220 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 28 May 2013 93,053 miles

front and rear discs rusty

n/s/f tyre wearing outer edge

o/s/f tyre wearing inner edge

slight play in f/ anti roll bar bushs

tracking

Fail 21 May 2013 93,039 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)

front and rear discs rusty

n/s/f tyre wearing outer edge

o/s/f tyre wearing inner edge

slight play in f/ anti roll bar bushs

tracking

Pass 27 Jan 2010 91,656 miles

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

Pass 16 Feb 2009 90,029 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2008 88,212 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Fail 22 Feb 2008 88,212 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 3 Feb 2007 85,546 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2006 83,252 miles

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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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R243 JPK is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 R243 JPK, 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 R243 JPK?

You can check the full history of R243 JPK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R243 JPK registered?

R243 JPK is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 30 September 1997.

Is R243 JPK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R243 JPK shows 20 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R243 JPK 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 R243 JPK. 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.