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R543 ERO

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Jul 2027
Tests34 (22 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

181,482 mi
Last recorded181,482 miles
Recorded on30 Jul 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR543 ERO
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

22 pass 12 fail
Pass 30 Jul 2026 181,482 miles

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

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

Pass 31 Jul 2025 177,900 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Offside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

handbrake just met requirements

Pass 6 Aug 2024 175,720 miles

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Fail 5 Aug 2024 175,716 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Parking brake inoperative on one side both (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 15 Aug 2023 173,668 miles

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

Fail 9 Aug 2023 173,599 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

Pass 11 Aug 2022 169,676 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2022 169,586 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin N/S and O/S look very low (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Pass 5 Aug 2021 164,133 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Pass 26 Aug 2020 158,357 miles

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

Pass 27 Aug 2019 151,846 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

nearside front to rear brake pipe corroding

offside front to rear brake pipe corroding

Fail 9 Aug 2019 151,747 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material nearside front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Pass 3 Aug 2018 145,159 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

nearside rear inner sill corroding

offside rear inner sill corroding

Fail 3 Aug 2018 145,152 miles

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

nearside rear inner sill corroding

offside rear inner sill corroding

Pass 23 Aug 2017 142,276 miles

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

rear brake pipes cleaned greased

Fail 18 Aug 2017 142,276 miles

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

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded both main runs side of tank to rear flexis (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

both rear inner sill slight corrosion

Pass 30 Aug 2016 140,833 miles

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion inner sill section - outer sill covers fitted (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion inner sill section - outer sill covers fitted (6.1.B.2)

metal brake pipes throughout vehicle showing slight corrosion - remedial action advised

slight movement within nearside and offside rear axle bushes

Fail 18 Aug 2016 140,807 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion inner sill section - outer sill covers fitted (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion inner sill section - outer sill covers fitted (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

metal brake pipes throughout vehicle showing slight corrosion - remedial action advised

slight movement within nearside and offside rear axle bushes

Pass 22 Aug 2015 140,425 miles

rear axle bushes slight play

Pass 5 Aug 2014 139,150 miles

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

Fail 4 Aug 2014 139,140 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Pass 2 Sep 2013 137,757 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

slight footbrake travel

Fail 2 Sep 2013 137,747 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside 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)

slight footbrake travel

Pass 13 Aug 2012 133,004 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 2 Sep 2011 124,967 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2011 124,940 miles

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

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

Pass 16 Aug 2010 115,623 miles

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

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

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

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

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

osf brake disc corroded

Pass 3 Sep 2009 107,208 miles

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 28 Aug 2009 107,077 miles

Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

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

Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Parking brake is not capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only (3.1.2)

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

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 1 May 2009 106,246 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2008 98,899 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2008 98,460 miles

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

n/s/f tyre wear

o/s/f tyre wear

Pass 16 Apr 2007 88,765 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2006 80,767 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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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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R543 ERO is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

Across all 1998 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.9% with a typical mileage of 117,395 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 R543 ERO, 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 28 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 R543 ERO?

You can check the full history of R543 ERO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R543 ERO registered?

R543 ERO is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R543 ERO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R543 ERO shows 34 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R543 ERO 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 R543 ERO. 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.