CarVerify

Free Car Check

R826 EJA

1997 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Oct 2021
Tests21 (15 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

169,216 mi
Last recorded169,216 miles
Recorded on29 Oct 2021
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

RegistrationR826 EJA
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourSilver
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

15 pass 6 fail
Fail 29 Oct 2021 169,216 miles

Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle (8.2.1.2 (f))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2020 163,630 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 13 Oct 2020 163,628 miles

Exhaust emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values (8.2.2.2 (f))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 26 Oct 2019 162,859 miles
Fail 22 Oct 2019 162,855 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Oct 2018 161,562 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2017 160,003 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 25 Oct 2016 158,381 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2015 156,469 miles
Fail 26 Oct 2015 156,469 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

Pass 6 Oct 2014 153,968 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2013 151,244 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2012 147,838 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2011 143,937 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2010 141,739 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2009 135,895 miles
Fail 23 Oct 2009 135,895 miles

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

Pass 9 Jun 2008 128,410 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 2 May 2007 116,760 miles

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

Pass 9 Mar 2006 107,236 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2006 107,600 miles

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

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

R826 EJA is a 1997 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 R826 EJA, 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 R826 EJA?

You can check the full history of R826 EJA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R826 EJA registered?

R826 EJA is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R826 EJA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R826 EJA shows 21 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R826 EJA 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 R826 EJA. 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.