CarVerify

Free Car Check

R366 VRK

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires19 Jun 2014
Tests16 (8 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

268,480 mi
Last recorded268,480 miles
Recorded on20 Jun 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR366 VRK
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc
View full BMW 523 reliability data

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 8 fail
Pass 20 Jun 2013 268,480 miles

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

Fail 18 Jun 2013 268,476 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

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

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

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

brake pad warning light on in dash

Fail 17 May 2013 268,457 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

nearside rear tyre perished

Fail 2 May 2013 258,412 miles

Centre Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Offside Front Driver's airbag obviously defective (5.4.1)

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

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

brake warning light on dash and n/s front wire broken

n/s front fog light u/s and broken

n/s front s /absorber slightly weak

Pass 27 Apr 2012 259,114 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2012 259,112 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Pass 28 Apr 2011 239,228 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2010 219,150 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2010 219,150 miles

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

registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

Pass 23 Apr 2009 203,103 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2008 186,218 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2008 186,218 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 16 Apr 2007 168,084 miles
Fail 14 Apr 2007 168,084 miles

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

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

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

both rear tyres on legal limit of 1.6 mm

Pass 27 Apr 2006 145,928 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2006 145,927 miles

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

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

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

R366 VRK is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 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 R366 VRK, 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 R366 VRK?

You can check the full history of R366 VRK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R366 VRK registered?

R366 VRK is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 7 October 1997.

Is R366 VRK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R366 VRK shows 16 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R366 VRK 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 R366 VRK. 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.