CarVerify

Free Car Check

S397 NAR

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Mar 2017
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

139,086 mi
Last recorded139,086 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 2016
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 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

RegistrationS397 NAR
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

8 pass 4 fail
Pass 18 Mar 2016 139,086 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2016 139,086 miles

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 29 Sep 2014 135,120 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2011 122,962 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2010 119,917 miles

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

Pass 7 Aug 2009 118,749 miles

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

air bag light on

bottom of the sill covers fitted

floor covers fitted n/s/f and o/s/f(1/2 covers)

Fail 7 Aug 2009 118,749 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

air bag light on

bottom of the sill covers fitted

floor covers fitted n/s/f and o/s/f(1/2 covers)

Fail 8 Aug 2008 115,412 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage 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 position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

airbag light on

bellypan fitted

n/s/f and o/s/f floor covers fitted

Pass 8 Aug 2008 115,412 miles

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

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

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

airbag light on

bellypan fitted

n/s/f and o/s/f floor covers fitted

Pass 22 Oct 2007 109,515 miles

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

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

air bag light on

bellypan fitted

floor pan covers fitted n/s and o/s

sideskirts fitted

Fail 18 Oct 2007 109,515 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage fractured (2.4.G.1)

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

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

air bag light on

bellypan fitted

floor pan covers fitted n/s and o/s

o/s/r light has 1 of the 2 bulbs out but still meets pass criteria

sideskirts fitted

Pass 30 Aug 2006 102,853 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

S397 NAR is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 S397 NAR, 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 S397 NAR?

You can check the full history of S397 NAR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S397 NAR registered?

S397 NAR is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 8 August 1998.

Is S397 NAR safe to buy?

The MOT history for S397 NAR shows 12 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S397 NAR 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 S397 NAR. 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.