CarVerify

Free Car Check

R818 VBY

1997 BMW 523

White Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Jul 2011
Tests9 (5 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

171,434 mi
Last recorded171,434 miles
Recorded on12 Jul 2010
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 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

RegistrationR818 VBY
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourWhite
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

5 pass 4 fail
Pass 12 Jul 2010 171,434 miles

Brake pipes corroding

Engine oil leak

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 12 Jul 2010 171,434 miles

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

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

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

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

Brake pipes corroding

Engine oil leak

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 29 May 2009 162,902 miles

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

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

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

Pass 29 May 2009 162,902 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)

Pass 31 May 2008 152,849 miles
Fail 31 May 2008 152,847 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 22 May 2007 139,478 miles

offside front anti-roll bar outer link arm dust rubber split but no play.

Fail 21 May 2007 139,478 miles

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

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

offside front anti-roll bar outer link arm dust rubber split but no play.

Pass 27 May 2006 123,181 miles

F/REAR DISCS WORN UNABLE TO VIEW PADS FULLY

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

R818 VBY is a 1997 BMW 523 in White with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

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 R818 VBY, 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 R818 VBY?

You can check the full history of R818 VBY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R818 VBY registered?

R818 VBY is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 2 September 1997.

Is R818 VBY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R818 VBY shows 9 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R818 VBY 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 R818 VBY. 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.