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R741 BEW

1997 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Aug 2014
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

188,547 mi
Last recorded188,547 miles
Recorded on17 Aug 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR741 BEW
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

7 pass 4 fail
Pass 17 Aug 2013 188,547 miles

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp does not illuminate (5.4.2)

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

both front brake discs worn

both headlamps deteriorated

engine oil leak

nearside rear outer sill corroded

Pass 26 Jul 2012 179,475 miles

air bag light on

both front roll bar drop links worn

Pass 27 Jul 2011 169,320 miles

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

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

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

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)

both front anti-roll bar drop link dust covers split

both front brake discs worn

nearside rear inner sill corroding

Fail 19 Jul 2011 169,236 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

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)

both front anti-roll bar drop link dust covers split

both front brake discs worn

nearside rear inner sill corroding

Pass 9 Jul 2010 159,288 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2010 159,288 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

Pass 25 Sep 2008 140,101 miles

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

Rubber seal on front lower panel coming adrift

Fail 7 May 2008 137,180 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Fail 11 Apr 2008 136,610 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc cracked (3.5.1h)

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

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

Pass 10 Feb 2007 128,826 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2006 113,547 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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R741 BEW is a 1997 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 R741 BEW, 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 R741 BEW?

You can check the full history of R741 BEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R741 BEW registered?

R741 BEW is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R741 BEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R741 BEW shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R741 BEW 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 R741 BEW. 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.