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R301 GHT

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Dec 2026
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

158,588 mi
Last recorded158,588 miles
Recorded on2 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR301 GHT
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 2 Dec 2025 158,588 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 25 Sep 2025 158,569 miles

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

Exhaust catalytic converter obviously modified (8.2.1.1 (a))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill inner (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to back both pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

sill covers and floor covers fitted

Pass 8 Oct 2024 154,529 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

fuel tank straps corroded

Fail 8 Oct 2024 154,524 miles

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

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

fuel tank straps corroded

Pass 2 Oct 2023 150,183 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

fuel tank straps corroded

Fail 29 Sep 2023 150,179 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread cracked (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

fuel tank straps corroded

Pass 8 Sep 2022 144,414 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Fail 8 Sep 2022 144,414 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

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

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

Pass 24 Sep 2021 140,432 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both o/s/f & n/s/f "D" Bushes. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both o/s/r & n/s/r (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Fail 22 Sep 2021 140,421 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Drop link, upper boot. (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Rear-most arm. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both o/s/f & n/s/f "D" Bushes. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both o/s/r & n/s/r (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Pass 8 Oct 2020 137,444 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Rearward (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Handbrake reading low

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

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Pass 22 Jun 2019 133,370 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Handbrake reading low

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

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Pass 12 Jun 2018 129,955 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Rearward (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Fail 5 Jun 2018 129,949 miles

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Both outer sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Rearward (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 1 Jun 2017 126,853 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint Rearward (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 27 May 2016 121,496 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 22 Jun 2015 116,833 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Slight play o/s steering arm

Pass 12 Jun 2014 111,971 miles

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

Fail 3 Jun 2014 111,971 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Jun 2013 105,870 miles

REAR SUSPENSION.both upper rear arms outer ball joints slight play

Pass 20 Jun 2012 101,246 miles

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

ns wiper poor condition

Pass 18 Jun 2011 94,713 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

nearside front steering arm has slight movement

nearside rear upper suspension arm has play in a bush

offside front steering arm has slight movement

offside rear upper suspension arm has play in a bush

Fail 18 Jun 2011 94,713 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

nearside front steering arm has slight movement

nearside rear upper suspension arm has play in a bush

offside front steering arm has slight movement

offside rear upper suspension arm has play in a bush

Pass 12 Jun 2010 88,520 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 27 Jun 2009 82,932 miles

one side parking brakes lock

slight play in offside rear supension bottom bushes

winscreen chip

Pass 16 Apr 2008 78,249 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2008 78,127 miles

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

main beam slightly discoloured

Pass 13 Apr 2007 66,250 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2006 57,091 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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R301 GHT is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

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 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 R301 GHT, 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 R301 GHT?

You can check the full history of R301 GHT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R301 GHT registered?

R301 GHT is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 9 April 1998.

Is R301 GHT safe to buy?

The MOT history for R301 GHT shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R301 GHT 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 R301 GHT. 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.