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R387 CAX

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Nov 2026
Tests22 (20 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.9%

Mileage

96,568 mi
Last recorded96,568 miles
Recorded on27 Oct 2025
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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR387 CAX
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

20 pass 2 fail
Pass 27 Oct 2025 96,568 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2024 94,606 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2023 93,090 miles
Pass 7 Nov 2022 91,370 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2021 90,015 miles
Fail 17 Nov 2021 90,010 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn outer (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 12 Nov 2020 87,876 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2019 85,650 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 6 Nov 2018 82,041 miles

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

Pass 20 Nov 2017 77,814 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2016 74,237 miles
Pass 18 Nov 2015 69,838 miles

All tyres cracking/perishing

Pass 18 Nov 2014 66,472 miles
Fail 18 Nov 2014 66,469 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)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 18 Nov 2013 63,622 miles

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

Pass 21 Nov 2012 60,963 miles
Pass 7 Nov 2011 56,392 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2010 52,779 miles

Oil leak

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

Pass 19 Nov 2009 50,335 miles
Pass 25 Nov 2008 47,669 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2007 43,363 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2006 38,976 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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R387 CAX is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.9%.

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 R387 CAX, 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 R387 CAX?

You can check the full history of R387 CAX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R387 CAX registered?

R387 CAX is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 8 January 1998.

Is R387 CAX safe to buy?

The MOT history for R387 CAX shows 22 tests with a 90.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R387 CAX 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 R387 CAX. 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.