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S260 MLM

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jan 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

195,114 mi
Last recorded195,114 miles
Recorded on12 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS260 MLM
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 12 Dec 2025 195,114 miles

Nearside Inner Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Jan 2025 193,529 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2023 191,932 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2022 190,059 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2021 188,338 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))

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

Pass 4 Dec 2020 186,173 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2019 183,779 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2019 183,774 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Nov 2018 179,066 miles
Pass 10 Nov 2017 174,260 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2017 174,251 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 21 Nov 2016 169,113 miles

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint front (2.4.G.2)

Fail 18 Nov 2016 169,107 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint front (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 Nov 2015 163,040 miles
Fail 30 Nov 2015 163,035 miles

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort parkbrake (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

Pass 24 Nov 2014 155,823 miles
Fail 19 Nov 2014 155,771 miles

Lower Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Upper Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 8 Nov 2013 146,451 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Oil leak

Pass 15 Nov 2012 138,754 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2011 128,766 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2010 118,044 miles

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

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

engine oil leak.

oil leak from rear differential.

Pass 3 Nov 2009 106,773 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 2 Dec 2008 92,904 miles
Fail 2 Dec 2008 92,900 miles

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

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

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

Pass 18 Jan 2008 82,499 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Jun 2007 82,378 miles
Fail 11 May 2007 82,258 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 4 Apr 2006 70,839 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2006 70,838 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight 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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S260 MLM is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

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 S260 MLM, 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 S260 MLM?

You can check the full history of S260 MLM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S260 MLM registered?

S260 MLM is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 17 August 1998.

Is S260 MLM safe to buy?

The MOT history for S260 MLM shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S260 MLM 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 S260 MLM. 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.