CarVerify

Free Car Check

R451 ARD

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Apr 2017
Tests12 (11 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate91.7%

Mileage

138,908 mi
Last recorded138,908 miles
Recorded on13 Apr 2016
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR451 ARD
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

11 pass 1 fail
Pass 13 Apr 2016 138,908 miles

Both headlamps deteriorated but light output and beam image not seriously affected

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush front arm (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 pin/bush front arm (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 9 Dec 2014 125,420 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2013 116,640 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2012 106,531 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2011 97,635 miles

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

Pass 10 Dec 2010 88,382 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2009 77,480 miles
Fail 16 Nov 2009 77,263 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel bead rim badly distorted (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Pass 4 Dec 2008 63,758 miles
Pass 14 Jan 2008 52,964 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2007 41,126 miles
Pass 27 Jan 2006 28,899 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

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

R451 ARD is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 91.7%.

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 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 R451 ARD, 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 R451 ARD?

You can check the full history of R451 ARD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R451 ARD registered?

R451 ARD is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 11 August 1997.

Is R451 ARD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R451 ARD shows 12 tests with a 91.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R451 ARD 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 R451 ARD. 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.