CarVerify

Free Car Check

S398 NLM

1998 BMW 523

Red Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires28 Nov 2018
Tests19 (12 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate63.2%

Mileage

169,640 mi
Last recorded169,640 miles
Recorded on21 Nov 2018
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS398 NLM
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourRed
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

12 pass 7 fail
Fail 21 Nov 2018 169,640 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

off side front tyre cracked/perished

off side rear tyre heavily worn on inner edge and cracked/perished

Pass 27 Nov 2017 163,626 miles

Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside Front nearside front tyre perishing but not exposing cords

Oil leak ()

Pass 1 Nov 2016 157,673 miles
Pass 11 Nov 2015 154,891 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2015 154,891 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 6 Nov 2014 145,150 miles

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

Fail 30 Oct 2014 145,150 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Brake lining(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Fail 4 Sep 2014 142,612 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Oil leak

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

Pass 13 Nov 2013 137,521 miles

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

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

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

Pass 23 Nov 2012 129,380 miles

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

Fail 16 Nov 2012 129,180 miles

Nearside Front Brake back plate(s) securing device missing (3.5.1j)

Offside Front Brake back plate(s) securing device missing (3.5.1j)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Pass 7 Nov 2011 117,623 miles

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

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

Fail 7 Nov 2011 117,623 miles

Nearside Rear An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Offside Rear An item not tested (Manual)

Offside Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

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

Pass 19 Nov 2010 107,756 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2009 97,622 miles

rear plate fading

Pass 17 Nov 2008 90,171 miles
Fail 17 Nov 2008 90,171 miles

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

Pass 6 Nov 2007 81,820 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2006 75,941 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

S398 NLM is a 1998 BMW 523 in Red with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.2%.

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 S398 NLM, 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 S398 NLM?

You can check the full history of S398 NLM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S398 NLM registered?

S398 NLM is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 29 October 1998.

Is S398 NLM safe to buy?

The MOT history for S398 NLM shows 19 tests with a 63.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S398 NLM 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 S398 NLM. 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.