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R386 BFS

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Aug 2021
Tests24 (14 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

207,328 mi
Last recorded207,328 miles
Recorded on3 Aug 2020
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR386 BFS
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

14 pass 10 fail
Pass 3 Aug 2020 207,328 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Jul 2020 207,326 miles

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Aug 2019 201,503 miles

can not fully inspect under side of vehicle due to under trays fitted

under side of vehicle starting to corrode

Pass 9 Jun 2018 195,785 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 7 Jun 2018 195,784 miles

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

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

Offside Front All position lamps not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting centre floor (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting inner sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting outer sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting boot floor (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Nov 2015 191,017 miles

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 29 Oct 2014 177,292 miles
Fail 28 Oct 2014 177,289 miles

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

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

Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (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 20 Aug 2013 165,174 miles

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Oil leak

Fail 20 Aug 2013 165,174 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Oil leak

Fail 14 Aug 2013 165,102 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

gearbox oil leak

Pass 31 Jul 2012 155,878 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2012 155,878 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Aug 2011 144,611 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Fail 18 Aug 2010 137,690 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 18 Aug 2010 137,690 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

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

Pass 28 Aug 2009 137,563 miles

Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

Fail 27 Aug 2009 137,563 miles

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

Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

Pass 19 Aug 2008 134,491 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2008 134,491 miles

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

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Pass 23 Aug 2007 125,758 miles

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

undetectable knock noise on n/s/r suspension

Pass 29 Aug 2006 114,559 miles

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

both front tyres starting to deteriorate (small cracks in tread)

Pass 18 Aug 2005 101,554 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2005 101,554 miles

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

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

both rear tyres on 1.6mm limit

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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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.

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R386 BFS is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

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 R386 BFS, 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 R386 BFS?

You can check the full history of R386 BFS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R386 BFS registered?

R386 BFS is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 24 September 1997.

Is R386 BFS safe to buy?

The MOT history for R386 BFS shows 24 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 R386 BFS 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 R386 BFS. 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.