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R73 AAW

1997 BMW 523

Red Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jan 2027
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

154,135 mi
Last recorded154,135 miles
Recorded on4 Dec 2025
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR73 AAW
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourRed
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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 4 Dec 2025 154,135 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre exhaust sleeve loose/blow (6.1.2 (a))

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective both slightly smearing (3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. lagging on initial operation (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front rack arm has slight play

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases rear exhaust sleeve slight blow (6.1.2 (a))

both sides, rear inner and outer sills undersealed

fuel tank straps slightly corroded

underside of vehicle under sealed/ wax oiled

Pass 11 Dec 2024 151,161 miles

Nearside Rear Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced inner sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

brake pipes and fuel pipes covered in underseal

Fail 5 Dec 2024 151,156 miles

Nearside Rear Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced inner sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

brake pipes and fuel pipes covered in underseal

Pass 8 Dec 2023 148,799 miles

corrosion/hole in end of o/s inner sill

Fail 7 Dec 2023 148,796 miles

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

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

corrosion/hole in end of o/s inner sill

Pass 9 Dec 2022 146,527 miles

rear of n/s and o/s inner sills rusty corroded

Fail 6 Dec 2022 146,524 miles

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

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

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

rear of n/s and o/s inner sills rusty corroded

Pass 17 Dec 2021 145,096 miles

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

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

Fail 9 Dec 2021 145,092 miles

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

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced by jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced by jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 9 Dec 2020 143,070 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2019 140,407 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2018 138,133 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 136,842 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2016 134,705 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2015 132,168 miles

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

Pass 16 Jun 2014 129,640 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2013 127,759 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2012 126,265 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2011 123,706 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2009 117,323 miles

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

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

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

Fail 25 Sep 2009 117,211 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Macpherson strut cracked (2.4.G.1)

low tread on both rear tyres 1.8 mm

Pass 25 Sep 2008 115,579 miles

tread getting low on offside rear and nearside front and rear tyres

Pass 3 Aug 2007 112,528 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2006 110,363 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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R73 AAW is a 1997 BMW 523 in Red with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

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 R73 AAW, 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 R73 AAW?

You can check the full history of R73 AAW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R73 AAW registered?

R73 AAW is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R73 AAW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R73 AAW shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R73 AAW 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 R73 AAW. 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.