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R542 VOD

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Nov 2011
Tests7 (4 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

105,275 mi
Last recorded105,275 miles
Recorded on12 Nov 2010
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

RegistrationR542 VOD
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

4 pass 3 fail
Pass 12 Nov 2010 105,275 miles
Fail 4 Nov 2010 105,047 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively chafed (3.6.B.4d)

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

Nearside Inner Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Rear Lower Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Suspension joint nearside lower dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

front brake discs heavily worn

nearside rear drive shaft gaiter split

offside rear drive shaft gaiter deteriorated

Pass 17 Nov 2009 196,276 miles
Fail 10 Oct 2007 184,830 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 6 Sep 2006 174,086 miles
Fail 4 Sep 2006 174,027 miles

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

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

Pass 8 Sep 2005 164,512 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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R542 VOD is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 7 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 R542 VOD, 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 R542 VOD?

You can check the full history of R542 VOD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R542 VOD registered?

R542 VOD is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 November 1997.

Is R542 VOD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R542 VOD shows 7 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R542 VOD 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 R542 VOD. 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.