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R47 RLJ

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Feb 2027
Tests33 (23 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate69.7%

Mileage

122,521 mi
Last recorded122,521 miles
Recorded on6 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationR47 RLJ
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

23 pass 10 fail
Pass 6 Jan 2026 122,521 miles

Brake disc worn, but not excessively all discs front & rear /faces corroded/worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive front of engine/sump area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Rear Exhaust silencer slightly loose silencer/retaining clamp corroded (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Fail 6 Jan 2026 122,521 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Brake disc worn, but not excessively all discs front & rear /faces corroded/worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive front of engine/sump area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Rear Exhaust silencer slightly loose silencer/retaining clamp corroded (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 28 Jan 2025 120,257 miles

Coolant leak radiator area ()

Oil leak, but not excessive engine oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jan 2024 117,431 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive underside /engine sump area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn/wearing inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 19 Jan 2023 114,583 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive engine sump area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge n/s & o/s worn 2-3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 2 Feb 2022 111,756 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Rear Outer Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Mar 2021 110,195 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened All front + rear. (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play lower. (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front windscreen washer jets not operating but sufficient water to clear screen.

Pass 26 Mar 2020 108,078 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Apr 2019 104,945 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2019 104,943 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases one clamp split at rear silencer to centre pipe joint. (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 28 Mar 2018 100,739 miles

Both front tyres starting to perish

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Fail 27 Mar 2018 100,739 miles

Nearside Inner Ball joint has excessive play Rack joint (2.2.B.1f)

Both front tyres starting to perish

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Inner Ball joint has slight play Rack joint (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 28 Mar 2017 96,955 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre is perished with some splitting around the treads.

Offside Front Tyre is perished with some splitting around the treads.

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

Pass 22 Mar 2016 93,491 miles

Front some perishing on tyres

Fail 17 Mar 2016 93,450 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Front some perishing on tyres

Offside Rear brake pad warning wire fouling on wheel

Pass 18 Mar 2015 87,930 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 21 Mar 2014 81,859 miles

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

Nearside front steering arm has slight play at inner ball joint.

Offside front steering arm has slight play at inner ball joint.

Fail 17 Mar 2014 81,853 miles

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

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

Nearside front steering arm has slight play at inner ball joint.

Offside front steering arm has slight play at inner ball joint.

Pass 22 Mar 2013 76,257 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 21 Mar 2013 76,252 miles

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Pass 19 Mar 2012 72,402 miles

Both front fog lamps have broken lens.

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

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

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Fail 19 Mar 2012 724,702 miles

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

Both front fog lamps have broken lens.

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

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

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Pass 18 Mar 2011 68,358 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2011 68,358 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

hi level stoplamp not working

Pass 8 Apr 2010 65,279 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2009 60,158 miles

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

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

Pass 7 Apr 2008 56,053 miles

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

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

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

Fail 7 Apr 2008 56,052 miles

Nearside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

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

Pass 17 Apr 2007 51,803 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Jul 2006 43,198 miles
Fail 19 Jul 2006 43,198 miles

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

Pass 21 Jul 2005 29,484 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2005 29,482 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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R47 RLJ is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.7%.

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 R47 RLJ, 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 R47 RLJ?

You can check the full history of R47 RLJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R47 RLJ registered?

R47 RLJ is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R47 RLJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R47 RLJ shows 33 tests with a 69.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R47 RLJ 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 R47 RLJ. 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.