CarVerify

Free Car Check

R557 RFV

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2500cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Jul 2019
Tests23 (12 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate52.2%

Mileage

203,136 mi
Last recorded203,136 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2019
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR557 RFV
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,500cc

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

12 pass 11 fail
Fail 8 Aug 2019 203,136 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner boot floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Jun 2018 192,520 miles

both front brake hoses slightly deteriorated

Fail 8 Jun 2018 192,520 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))

both front brake hoses slightly deteriorated

Pass 9 Jun 2017 180,291 miles

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

Fail 8 Jun 2017 180,291 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded Inner Sill (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Inner Sill (5.2.6)

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

Pass 21 Jun 2016 173,918 miles
Fail 15 Jun 2016 173,910 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

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

Pass 18 Jun 2015 165,417 miles
Fail 15 Jun 2015 165,417 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 3 Jun 2014 157,302 miles

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

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

both front tyres wearing at outer edges and both rears at inner edges

parking brake efficiency low (19%)

Pass 7 Jun 2013 149,419 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2013 149,419 miles

Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 28 Jun 2012 145,914 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 27 Jun 2012 145,914 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 1 Jul 2011 141,660 miles

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

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 1 Jul 2011 141,660 miles

Rear Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

offside front brake binding on part of the brake disc and inner brake pad worn offside

Pass 11 Jun 2010 134,596 miles

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

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

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

Fail 9 Jun 2010 134,596 miles

Nearside Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 Jul 2009 122,671 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 30 Jun 2009 122,670 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 1 Jul 2008 112,982 miles

most brake pipes have varied corrosion on them were visable

Fail 3 Apr 2006 95,631 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 3 Apr 2006 95,631 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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

R557 RFV is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 52.2%.

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 R557 RFV, 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 R557 RFV?

You can check the full history of R557 RFV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R557 RFV registered?

R557 RFV is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R557 RFV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R557 RFV shows 23 tests with a 52.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R557 RFV 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 R557 RFV. 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.