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S171 CDL

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2497cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Sep 2026
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

127,682 mi
Last recorded127,682 miles
Recorded on18 Sep 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS171 CDL
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,497cc

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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 18 Sep 2025 127,682 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 17 Sep 2024 126,264 miles

Nearside Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage Power steering reservoir under bonnet has a slight leak (2.1.5 (a))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill to floor near jacking point starting to rust (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 21 Sep 2023 124,983 miles
Fail 4 Sep 2023 124,921 miles

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

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 2 Sep 2022 123,471 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2021 122,073 miles

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

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

Fail 22 Sep 2021 122,073 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 15 Sep 2020 121,550 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

undershields fitted obscuring brake pipe inspection

Pass 16 Sep 2019 120,167 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2018 118,308 miles

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Sep 2017 115,658 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2016 111,370 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2015 106,954 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2014 102,290 miles

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

all steel brake pipes rusty

Pass 2 Sep 2013 98,644 miles

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

Fail 30 Aug 2013 98,608 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Sep 2012 95,430 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2011 92,267 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2010 87,872 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2009 83,555 miles

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

Pass 8 Sep 2009 83,555 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2008 81,064 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2007 77,717 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2006 74,349 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2006 74,349 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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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S171 CDL is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,497cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1998 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.9% with a typical mileage of 117,395 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 S171 CDL, 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 28 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 S171 CDL?

You can check the full history of S171 CDL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S171 CDL registered?

S171 CDL is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 9 September 1998.

Is S171 CDL safe to buy?

The MOT history for S171 CDL shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S171 CDL 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 S171 CDL. 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.