CarVerify

Free Car Check

S39 TNG

1998 BMW 523

Black Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Aug 2020
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

172,684 mi
Last recorded172,684 miles
Recorded on16 Aug 2019
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

RegistrationS39 TNG
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

14 pass 9 fail
Pass 16 Aug 2019 172,684 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 21 May 2018 168,615 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to back (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 27 Apr 2017 164,869 miles

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (4.1.D.1e)

Pass 22 Apr 2016 152,668 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 30 Apr 2015 149,008 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 23 Apr 2015 148,984 miles

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

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 23 Apr 2014 142,566 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2014 142,518 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

Fail 8 Apr 2014 142,402 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

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

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

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

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

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 18 Apr 2013 134,912 miles
Fail 14 Feb 2013 133,585 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

air bag light on

Pass 22 Feb 2012 127,719 miles

air bag warning light on

rear brake hoses perished

Fail 17 Feb 2012 127,633 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

air bag warning light on

rear brake hoses perished

Pass 28 Feb 2011 121,852 miles

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

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

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

Fail 24 Feb 2011 121,852 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

n/s/f brake pad wire broken

Pass 24 Feb 2010 113,574 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

air bag warning light fails to go out

auxiliary drive belts deteriorated

Fail 24 Feb 2010 113,574 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

air bag warning light fails to go out

auxiliary drive belts deteriorated

Pass 28 Oct 2008 103,901 miles

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

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

air bag light on

o/s/f fog light cracked

rear exhaust heat sheild insecure

Pass 24 Oct 2007 94,178 miles

uneven wear on offside front tyre

Fail 24 Oct 2007 94,177 miles

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

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

uneven wear on offside front tyre

Pass 15 Sep 2006 84,249 miles

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

Pass 21 Sep 2005 77,220 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2005 77,220 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.6.D2)

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

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

hand brake efforts could be better. † †

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

S39 TNG is a 1998 BMW 523 in Black with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

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 S39 TNG, 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 S39 TNG?

You can check the full history of S39 TNG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S39 TNG registered?

S39 TNG is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 10 August 1998.

Is S39 TNG safe to buy?

The MOT history for S39 TNG shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S39 TNG 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 S39 TNG. 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.