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R278 BWW

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Jan 2014
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

97,340 mi
Last recorded97,340 miles
Recorded on20 Sep 2013
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR278 BWW
MakeBMW
Model523
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

8 pass 5 fail
Fail 20 Sep 2013 97,340 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)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

exhaust heatshield insecure

Fail 28 Aug 2013 97,322 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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 Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Rear 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 15 Jan 2013 95,148 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2012 90,777 miles
Fail 16 Jan 2012 90,777 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)

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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)

Pass 4 Jan 2011 87,004 miles
Fail 30 Dec 2010 86,951 miles

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

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

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

rear heat sheild insecure

Fail 15 Dec 2010 86,775 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 7 Dec 2009 78,675 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2008 72,833 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2007 66,311 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2006 61,616 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2005 57,473 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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R278 BWW is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 R278 BWW, 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 R278 BWW?

You can check the full history of R278 BWW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R278 BWW registered?

R278 BWW is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R278 BWW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R278 BWW shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R278 BWW 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 R278 BWW. 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.