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S38 VWB

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Sep 2013
Tests13 (7 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

107,682 mi
Last recorded107,682 miles
Recorded on1 Oct 2012
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

RegistrationS38 VWB
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
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

7 pass 6 fail
Pass 1 Oct 2012 107,682 miles

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

Front brake drum worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 29 Sep 2012 107,642 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

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

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

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

Fail 28 Sep 2012 107,634 miles

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

Nearside Rear Exhaust tailpipe not capable of allowing the emission probe to be inserted (7.3.D.1)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

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

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

Fail 24 Jul 2012 103,890 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 9 Aug 2011 93,039 miles

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

Fail 8 Aug 2011 93,023 miles

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

Offside Front All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)

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

Pass 6 Aug 2010 83,504 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2009 72,922 miles

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

Pass 28 Jul 2008 65,065 miles
Fail 24 Jul 2008 65,060 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

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

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

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 30 Jul 2007 59,824 miles

brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 30 Jul 2007 59,824 miles

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 11 Jul 2006 52,939 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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S38 VWB is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

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 S38 VWB, 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 S38 VWB?

You can check the full history of S38 VWB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S38 VWB registered?

S38 VWB is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 6 August 1998.

Is S38 VWB safe to buy?

The MOT history for S38 VWB shows 13 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S38 VWB 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 S38 VWB. 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.