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R494 BFU

1997 BMW 525

Silver Diesel 2498cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Mar 2027
Tests26 (18 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

148,079 mi
Last recorded148,079 miles
Recorded on11 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 525141,402 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

RegistrationR494 BFU
MakeBMW
Model525
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,498cc

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

18 pass 8 fail
Pass 11 Mar 2026 148,079 miles

Nearside Rear Inner inner sill near jacking point corroded but not affecting breaking or steering.

Nearside fuel lines corroded, slight weep.

both front tyres getting little perished.

Pass 18 Mar 2025 147,355 miles

Nearside Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Rear Inner sill corroded but not affecting anything.

Pass 22 Mar 2024 146,374 miles

Nearside Rear Inner sill corroded

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

Fail 13 Mar 2024 146,326 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Inner sill corroded

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

Pass 17 Mar 2023 145,075 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear sill corroded

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

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

Pass 22 Mar 2022 143,345 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil on shaft (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Inner sill has rust hole but not affecting anything.

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

Fail 15 Mar 2022 143,291 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault nsf abs lead fault (1.6 (b))

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil on shaft (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Inner sill has rust hole but not affecting anything.

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play dogleg arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Mar 2021 142,007 miles

Nearside Rear Inner sill corroded

Pass 25 Mar 2020 140,399 miles

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

Fail 11 Mar 2020 140,399 miles

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.1 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 5 Mar 2019 136,326 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 4 Mar 2019 136,326 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen in an unacceptable condition (3.2 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 21 Feb 2018 125,907 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 15 Feb 2018 128,695 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Feb 2017 120,795 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2016 116,701 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Offside Rear Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 3 Mar 2015 110,818 miles

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

Fail 3 Mar 2015 110,818 miles

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

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

Pass 13 Nov 2013 108,389 miles

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

Pass 21 Nov 2012 104,493 miles

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

Offside Rear Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Pass 25 Nov 2011 101,303 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2009 89,273 miles

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

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 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)

Pass 7 Feb 2008 82,739 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

n/s/f fog lamp damaged

Fail 4 Feb 2008 82,739 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

n/s/f fog lamp damaged

Pass 19 Jan 2007 71,520 miles

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

N/S/F Fog lamp missing

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 13 Jan 2007 71,510 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

N/S/F fog light missing

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

How Reliable is the BMW 525?

Based on 724,963 MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles.

74.4%
Pass Rate
7,259
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
56,965
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,171
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,227
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,065
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 9,710
Full BMW 525 reliability report

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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.

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R494 BFU is a 1997 BMW 525 in Silver with a 2,498cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

Across all 1997 BMW 525 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.3% with a typical mileage of 141,402 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 525 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,171 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R494 BFU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 525 typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 525 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R494 BFU?

You can check the full history of R494 BFU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R494 BFU registered?

R494 BFU is a 1997 BMW 525, first registered on 27 August 1997.

Is R494 BFU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R494 BFU shows 26 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R494 BFU 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 R494 BFU. 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.