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R480 RAO

1997 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Sep 2017
Tests16 (10 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

153,831 mi
Last recorded153,831 miles
Recorded on16 Sep 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR480 RAO
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

10 pass 6 fail
Pass 16 Sep 2016 153,831 miles

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

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

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front brake pipe heavily corroded

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake pipe heavily corroded

fuel tank straps corroded

rear subframe mounting washers corroded

Fail 17 Aug 2016 153,824 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill (5.2.6)

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

Pass 10 Dec 2014 148,451 miles

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 3 Dec 2014 148,448 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 4 Oct 2013 143,607 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2012 134,525 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Dec 2012 134,520 miles

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

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

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

Pass 6 Dec 2011 125,616 miles
Fail 5 Dec 2011 125,616 miles

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

Pass 7 Dec 2010 116,571 miles
Fail 7 Dec 2010 116,571 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Pass 17 Dec 2009 107,626 miles

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 17 Dec 2009 107,626 miles

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 5 Dec 2008 95,741 miles

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

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 20 Dec 2007 86,718 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2006 81,691 miles

adjust both headlight aims too 1.25 percent

airbag light on dash

boot hindges worn

high level brakelight loose

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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R480 RAO is a 1997 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 R480 RAO, 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 R480 RAO?

You can check the full history of R480 RAO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R480 RAO registered?

R480 RAO is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 24 September 1997.

Is R480 RAO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R480 RAO shows 16 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R480 RAO 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 R480 RAO. 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.