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R61 YLE

1998 BMW 523

Grey Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Dec 2026
Tests30 (18 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

144,927 mi
Last recorded144,927 miles
Recorded on19 Dec 2025
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

RegistrationR61 YLE
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGrey
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

18 pass 12 fail
Pass 19 Dec 2025 144,927 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 11 Dec 2025 144,921 miles

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear no plaTE LIGHT INSUFFIECUNT LIGHT FROM LAMP

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 16 Dec 2024 144,413 miles
Fail 13 Dec 2024 144,413 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Nail in tyre ()

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

Rear Heat Shield Insecure

Pass 12 Dec 2023 143,181 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2023 143,179 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Front Inner Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Inner Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 1 Dec 2022 142,094 miles

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

Fail 30 Nov 2022 142,093 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 13 Dec 2021 141,191 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 13 Dec 2021 141,191 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Inner Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 13 Aug 2019 138,975 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (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))

oil level on minimum

Fail 10 Aug 2019 138,919 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (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))

oil level on minimum

Pass 8 Aug 2018 133,625 miles

Nearside Front Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear brake hose slightly perished

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear brake hose slightly perished

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

oil on minimum

Fail 8 Aug 2018 133,624 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear brake hose slightly perished

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear brake hose slightly perished

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

oil on minimum

Pass 9 Aug 2017 127,149 miles
Fail 7 Aug 2017

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 Aug 2016 116,532 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 5 Aug 2015

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 25 Mar 2014

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 11 Mar 2013 82,284 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 29 Feb 2012 74,059 miles
Fail 28 Feb 2012 74,058 miles

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

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

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

Pass 13 Oct 2010 65,118 miles

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

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

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

Fail 11 Oct 2010 65,096 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Mar 2009 45,921 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2009 45,890 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)

power steering is leaking fluid very low

Pass 28 Mar 2008 43,624 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2007 41,847 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2007 41,835 miles

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

steering rack is leaking

Pass 21 Mar 2006 38,374 miles

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

n/s front tyre is worn to the legal limit. steering rack is leaking

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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R61 YLE is a 1998 BMW 523 in Grey with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 R61 YLE, 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 R61 YLE?

You can check the full history of R61 YLE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R61 YLE registered?

R61 YLE is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 15 April 1998.

Is R61 YLE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R61 YLE shows 30 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R61 YLE 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 R61 YLE. 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.