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R553 UYY

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jun 2027
Tests33 (21 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

130,046 mi
Last recorded130,046 miles
Recorded on21 May 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 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

RegistrationR553 UYY
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
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

21 pass 12 fail
Pass 21 May 2026 130,046 miles

Central Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Fail 20 May 2026 130,046 miles

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

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

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

Offside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Central Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 2 Jun 2025 119,182 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Pass 21 May 2024 117,945 miles

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

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

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

Pass 24 May 2023 117,643 miles
Pass 18 May 2022 116,708 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 13 May 2021 114,871 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 6 May 2021 114,804 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 19 May 2020 111,803 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 21 May 2019 110,270 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both front tyres have light cracking on sidewalls (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 22 May 2018 107,611 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 22 May 2018 107,611 miles

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

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 May 2017 105,488 miles

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened lipped (3.5.1i)

Fail 17 May 2017 105,488 miles

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm both side worn unevenly bold on inner edges (4.1.E.1)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened lipped (3.5.1i)

Pass 31 May 2016 103,281 miles

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

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit both side worn on inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Fail 31 May 2016 103,281 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively wrong and split (8.2.2)

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

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit both side worn on inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 May 2015 100,642 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Pass 13 May 2014 98,850 miles

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

Oil leak

Fail 13 May 2014 98,850 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

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

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 15 May 2013 96,806 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 14 May 2013 96,806 miles

Offside Rear coil spring cracked (2.4.C.1a)

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 18 May 2012 94,462 miles
Fail 18 May 2012 94,462 miles

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

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 31 May 2011 91,828 miles

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

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

Fail 26 May 2010 88,957 miles

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

Pass 26 May 2010 88,957 miles
Pass 19 May 2009 86,541 miles
Fail 19 May 2009 86,541 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 2 Jun 2008 82,417 miles
Pass 25 May 2007 78,545 miles
Fail 22 May 2007 78,545 miles

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

Pass 23 May 2006 72,553 miles
Fail 22 May 2006 72,533 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)

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R553 UYY is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 R553 UYY, 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 R553 UYY?

You can check the full history of R553 UYY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R553 UYY registered?

R553 UYY is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 26 June 1998.

Is R553 UYY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R553 UYY shows 33 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R553 UYY 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 R553 UYY. 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.