CarVerify

Free Car Check

R278 VKL

1998 BMW 525

Silver Diesel 2498cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 Nov 2013
Tests12 (7 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

135,194 mi
Last recorded135,194 miles
Recorded on22 Nov 2012
Typical for 1998 BMW 525140,771 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

RegistrationR278 VKL
MakeBMW
Model525
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,498cc

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

7 pass 5 fail
Pass 22 Nov 2012 135,194 miles

Airbag light ON

Fail 22 Nov 2012 135,194 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Inner Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Airbag light ON

Pass 10 Feb 2012 126,502 miles

Airbag warning lamp indicates a fault

Nearside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Oil leak

Fail 30 Jan 2012 126,134 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Airbag warning lamp indicates a fault

Nearside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Oil leak

Pass 28 Jan 2011 116,018 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2011 116,015 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 12 Feb 2010 106,675 miles

Air-Bag light on

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

o/s/f tyre worn on the outter edge

Fail 11 Feb 2010 106,675 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Air-Bag light on

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

o/s/f tyre worn on the outter edge

Pass 15 Nov 2008 95,213 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 15 Nov 2008 95,204 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 29 Jan 2008 92,066 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2007 83,503 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

How Reliable is the BMW 525?

Based on 724,963 MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles.

74.4%
Pass Rate
7,259
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
56,965
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,171
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,227
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,065
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 9,710
Full BMW 525 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

R278 VKL is a 1998 BMW 525 in Silver with a 2,498cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

Across all 1998 BMW 525 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.2% with a typical mileage of 140,771 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 525 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,171 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R278 VKL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 525 typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 28 years old, this BMW 525 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R278 VKL?

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

What year was R278 VKL registered?

R278 VKL is a 1998 BMW 525, first registered on 23 January 1998.

Is R278 VKL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R278 VKL shows 12 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R278 VKL 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 VKL. 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.