CarVerify

Free Car Check

S491 SFH

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Sep 2021
Tests25 (15 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

188,269 mi
Last recorded188,269 miles
Recorded on3 Sep 2020
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

RegistrationS491 SFH
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

15 pass 10 fail
Pass 3 Sep 2020 188,269 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

boot floor corroded

Fail 1 Sep 2020 188,216 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

boot floor corroded

Pass 5 Sep 2019 182,261 miles

handbrake just met requirements

Fail 3 Sep 2019 182,168 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced two areas on the middle and rear section of the sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 12 Sep 2018 175,854 miles

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Sep 2018 175,831 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Offside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Sep 2017 170,841 miles

brake pipes surface corrosion

under vehicle surface corrosion

Pass 1 Sep 2016 165,436 miles
Fail 30 Aug 2016 165,432 miles

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

Nearside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded Sill (5.2.6)

Offside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded Sill (5.2.6)

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

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

Pass 10 Sep 2015 156,982 miles

handbrake readings low just passed test

o/s and n/s sills tatty

Pass 20 Aug 2014 147,048 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2014 147,045 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear 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 30 Aug 2013 141,404 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 30 Aug 2013 141,404 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 11 Sep 2012 136,068 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2012 135,956 miles

Anti-lock braking system component missing (3.4.2)

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

Pass 9 Sep 2011 134,144 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2011 134,076 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 6 Sep 2010 129,253 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2009 122,784 miles
Fail 25 Aug 2009 122,540 miles

Nearside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Fail 22 Aug 2008 115,900 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Aug 2008 115,900 miles

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

Pass 24 Aug 2007 110,140 miles

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

Pass 14 Aug 2006 102,108 miles

Both rear tyres are very close to legal tread depth.

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

S491 SFH is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 S491 SFH, 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 S491 SFH?

You can check the full history of S491 SFH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S491 SFH registered?

S491 SFH is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 3 December 1998.

Is S491 SFH safe to buy?

The MOT history for S491 SFH shows 25 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S491 SFH 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 S491 SFH. 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.