CarVerify

Free Car Check

R709 PPE

1997 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires24 Sep 2024
Tests18 (12 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

154,966 mi
Last recorded154,966 miles
Recorded on25 Sep 2023
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR709 PPE
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
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

12 pass 6 fail
Pass 25 Sep 2023 154,966 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Oct 2017 154,961 miles

damage to windscreen

Fail 27 Aug 2016 154,291 miles

Nearside Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

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

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 3 Sep 2015 196,338 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2014 141,016 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2014 141,016 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 4 Sep 2013 133,969 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2013 133,969 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 6 Sep 2012 126,834 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 22 Sep 2011 118,671 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)

Pass 18 Aug 2010 107,763 miles
Fail 28 Jul 2010 106,827 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

Fail 12 Oct 2009 102,287 miles

Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

Pass 12 Oct 2009 102,287 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2008 90,538 miles

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

Nearside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

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

Offside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

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

Pass 19 Oct 2007 78,009 miles

advise both rear tyres worn on inner treads close to legal limits 225 / 55 R16 95v

advise engine oil leaks

Pass 5 Oct 2006 99,400 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2006 99,397 miles

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

nearside rear tyre has a cut on outer wall

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

R709 PPE is a 1997 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 R709 PPE, 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 R709 PPE?

You can check the full history of R709 PPE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R709 PPE registered?

R709 PPE is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R709 PPE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R709 PPE shows 18 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R709 PPE 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 R709 PPE. 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.