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S271 XAT

1998 BMW 523

Black Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Jul 2027
Tests33 (21 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

183,782 mi
Last recorded183,782 miles
Recorded on14 Jul 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS271 XAT
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourBlack
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 12 fail
Pass 14 Jul 2026 183,782 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

body covers fitted obscuring components

fuel pipes corroded

Pass 21 Jul 2025 180,306 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

fuel pipes corroded

Fail 14 Jul 2025 180,290 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

fuel pipes corroded

Pass 17 Jul 2024 176,623 miles

Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement d bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement d bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 11 Jul 2024 176,609 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill and inner arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill and wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement d bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement d bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jul 2023 173,094 miles

Central Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 11 Jul 2023 173,094 miles

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

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

Central Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 11 Jul 2022 168,975 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2021 164,730 miles

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

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

oil leak under engine bay

Pass 20 Jul 2020 161,035 miles

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge all tyres at 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 14 Jul 2020 160,992 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rose bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rose bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge all tyres at 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 17 Jul 2019 156,825 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Jul 2018 152,848 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jul 2017 148,274 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2016 142,856 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Pass 8 Jul 2015 137,694 miles

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 8 Jul 2015 137,694 miles

Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 9 Jul 2014 132,634 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Fail 8 Jul 2014 132,632 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Fail 13 Jun 2013 127,573 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 13 Jun 2013 127,573 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front 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 16 Jul 2012 123,360 miles
Fail 16 Jul 2012 123,360 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 12 Jul 2011 118,303 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2011 118,303 miles

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

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

Pass 13 Jul 2010 112,921 miles

Suspension joint nearside lower dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Fail 12 Jul 2010 112,916 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Suspension joint nearside lower dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Pass 30 Jun 2009 107,281 miles
Fail 29 Jun 2009 107,280 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Pass 7 Jul 2008 101,489 miles

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

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

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

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

parking brake just making limits

Fail 7 Jul 2008 101,488 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 16 Jul 2007 95,735 miles

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

Pass 21 Jul 2006 91,421 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

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S271 XAT is a 1998 BMW 523 in Black with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 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 S271 XAT, 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 S271 XAT?

You can check the full history of S271 XAT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S271 XAT registered?

S271 XAT is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 16 November 1998.

Is S271 XAT safe to buy?

The MOT history for S271 XAT shows 33 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S271 XAT 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 S271 XAT. 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.