CarVerify

Free Car Check

S256 DTC

1999 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jul 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

164,540 mi
Last recorded164,540 miles
Recorded on14 Jun 2026
Typical for 1999 BMW 523117,158 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationS256 DTC
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1999
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 14 Jun 2026 164,540 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear inner sills corroded both sides

Pass 4 Jun 2025 164,370 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2024 164,174 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2024 164,174 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

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

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

Pass 30 Jul 2022 164,074 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 23 Aug 2021 163,829 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2020 163,290 miles
Fail 29 Jul 2020 163,290 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 3 Aug 2019 162,651 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2018 159,873 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2017 156,725 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2016 154,463 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2015 152,507 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2014 149,132 miles

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

Pass 24 Jul 2013 146,997 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2012 146,115 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2011 142,652 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2010 138,093 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2010 138,093 miles

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

Pass 22 Aug 2009 134,140 miles

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

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

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

did not lock on rear both hand brakes

rear diff oil leak

Fail 22 Aug 2009 134,140 miles

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

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

Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

did not lock on rear both hand brakes

rear diff oil leak

Pass 23 Aug 2008 128,664 miles

Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 24 Aug 2007 122,234 miles
Fail 22 Aug 2007 122,234 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 23 Aug 2006 112,657 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

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

S256 DTC is a 1999 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1999 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 117,158 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 S256 DTC, 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 27 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 S256 DTC?

You can check the full history of S256 DTC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S256 DTC registered?

S256 DTC is a 1999 BMW 523, first registered on 8 January 1999.

Is S256 DTC safe to buy?

The MOT history for S256 DTC 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 S256 DTC 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 S256 DTC. 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.