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R495 OES

1997 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Jul 2026
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

151,371 mi
Last recorded151,371 miles
Recorded on28 Jul 2025
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

RegistrationR495 OES
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

19 pass 4 fail
Pass 28 Jul 2025 151,371 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2023 149,181 miles

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

Fail 3 Nov 2023 149,181 miles

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 11 Nov 2022 147,603 miles

Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 11 Nov 2022 147,603 miles

Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 13 Nov 2021 145,415 miles

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

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 12 Nov 2021 145,412 miles

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

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

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Nov 2020 145,003 miles

Lower Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Nov 2019 141,609 miles

Lower Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Nov 2019 141,609 miles

Lower Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Sound deadening material likely to become detached (8.1.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 25 Oct 2018 137,553 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both rear inner treads (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 27 Oct 2017 131,995 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 13 Oct 2016 128,116 miles

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

Pass 20 Oct 2015 124,080 miles

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 13 Oct 2014 119,908 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

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

Pass 15 Oct 2013 115,511 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2012 111,019 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2011 106,547 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2010 101,815 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2009 97,678 miles

n s steering rack ball joint slight play

Pass 24 Oct 2008 92,992 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2007 86,588 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2006 80,411 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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R495 OES is a 1997 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

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 R495 OES, 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 R495 OES?

You can check the full history of R495 OES by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R495 OES registered?

R495 OES is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 26 September 1997.

Is R495 OES safe to buy?

The MOT history for R495 OES shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R495 OES 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 R495 OES. 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.