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R554 AKX

1997 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jan 2027
Tests29 (20 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate69%

Mileage

82,699 mi
Last recorded82,699 miles
Recorded on26 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationR554 AKX
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

20 pass 9 fail
Pass 26 Jan 2026 82,699 miles

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

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

Fail 22 Jan 2026 82,697 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

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

Pass 19 Mar 2025 79,470 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Fail 30 Jan 2025 79,468 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Headlights cloudy

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

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

Rear Valve stem slightly damaged Both (5.2.3 (j))

Windscreen wiper blade defective Both (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 20 Dec 2023 78,519 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 5 Dec 2023 78,519 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 4 Nov 2022 76,669 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 3 Nov 2022 76,669 miles

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 29 Sep 2022 76,629 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Front axle, rear lower arm ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

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

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 5 Jul 2021 75,432 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing slight cracking on side wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 7 Jul 2020 74,831 miles

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

Pass 10 Jul 2019 73,818 miles

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

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both sides (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 9 Jul 2018 73,195 miles

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

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

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

Rear Upper Suspension rod ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both side (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Jul 2017 71,871 miles

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

Pass 13 Jul 2016 70,139 miles

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

Pass 8 Jul 2015 68,748 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2014 67,767 miles

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

Fail 15 Jul 2014 67,767 miles

Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 8 Jul 2013 66,129 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Nearside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Pass 3 Jul 2012 64,674 miles
Fail 2 Jul 2012 64,674 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 13 Jul 2011 63,005 miles
Fail 12 Jul 2011 63,005 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Pass 16 Jul 2010 61,618 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2010 61,618 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 13 Jul 2009 60,259 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2008 57,961 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2007 55,979 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2006 53,164 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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R554 AKX is a 1997 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69%.

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 R554 AKX, 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 R554 AKX?

You can check the full history of R554 AKX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R554 AKX registered?

R554 AKX is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R554 AKX safe to buy?

The MOT history for R554 AKX shows 29 tests with a 69% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R554 AKX 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 R554 AKX. 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.