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R38 DCV

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Oct 2015
Tests14 (9 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

125,744 mi
Last recorded125,744 miles
Recorded on2 Oct 2014
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 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

RegistrationR38 DCV
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

9 pass 5 fail
Pass 2 Oct 2014 125,744 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Fail 1 Oct 2014 125,743 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

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

Pass 26 Sep 2013 119,330 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 26 Sep 2013 119,329 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)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 11 Sep 2012 114,523 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 11 Sep 2012 114,523 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 14 Sep 2011 110,454 miles

Coolant leak

Front and rear brake discs corroded

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

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

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

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

Fail 13 Sep 2011 110,453 miles

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

Offside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

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

Coolant leak

Front and rear brake discs corroded

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

Handbrake Performance weak

N/S/F AND O/S/F BRAKE PIPES CORRODED

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

O/S/R brake pipe corroded

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

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

Pass 4 Oct 2010 102,980 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2009 98,259 miles

discs + pads 1/2 to 3/4 worn

tyres 3/4 worn

Fail 7 Oct 2008 86,593 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 7 Oct 2008 86,593 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2007 73,852 miles

check parking brake system,long travel on lever and lower effort on offside

Pass 10 Oct 2006 63,240 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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R38 DCV is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

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 R38 DCV, 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 R38 DCV?

You can check the full history of R38 DCV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R38 DCV registered?

R38 DCV is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 4 August 1997.

Is R38 DCV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R38 DCV shows 14 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R38 DCV 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 R38 DCV. 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.