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S523 VAO

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Feb 2023
Tests29 (17 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate58.6%

Mileage

167,781 mi
Last recorded167,781 miles
Recorded on14 Feb 2022
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS523 VAO
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

17 pass 12 fail
Pass 14 Feb 2022 167,781 miles

Corrosion in rear floor not excessive

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

under trays fitted

Fail 11 Feb 2022 167,781 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Corrosion in rear floor not excessive

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

under trays fitted

Pass 19 Feb 2021 167,696 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

under trays fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Pass 30 Jan 2020 166,354 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

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

under trays fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Pass 18 Feb 2019 160,329 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

under trays + sill covers + under arch covers fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Fail 18 Feb 2019 160,329 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Nearside Rear Inner Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

under trays + sill covers + under arch covers fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Pass 15 Feb 2018 155,118 miles

Both nearside tyres cracking in tread, not down to cords.

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

under trays fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Pass 23 Feb 2017 152,319 miles

under trays + sill covers fitted obscuring some under vehicle components

Fail 30 Jan 2017 152,318 miles

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

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

under trays + sill covers fitted obscuring some under vehicle components.

Pass 29 Jan 2016 151,853 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2016 151,853 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Pass 15 Jan 2015 150,409 miles

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

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

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

n/s/f tyre perrished

slight corrosion to n/s/r inner cill

Fail 14 Jan 2015 150,409 miles

Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault (3.4.1c)

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

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

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

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

n/s/f tyre perrished

slight corrosion to n/s/r inner cill

Pass 27 Jan 2014 148,716 miles
Fail 27 Jan 2014 148,715 miles

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

Pass 24 Jan 2013 145,816 miles

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

Fail 23 Jan 2013 145,816 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is fractured (2.4.A.3)

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

Pass 1 Feb 2012 143,361 miles
Fail 26 Jan 2012 143,361 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Pass 27 Jan 2011 139,449 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2011 139,446 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 28 Jan 2010 133,500 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2010 133,500 miles

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Pass 29 Jan 2009 130,414 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2008 128,628 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2007 126,170 miles
Fail 24 Jan 2007 126,170 miles

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

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

Offside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 2 Feb 2006 119,973 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2006 119,973 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Air suspension unit slightly deteriorated (2.4.D.1b)

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

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

Offside Rear Air suspension unit slightly deteriorated (2.4.D.1b)

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

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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S523 VAO is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.6%.

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 S523 VAO, 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 S523 VAO?

You can check the full history of S523 VAO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S523 VAO registered?

S523 VAO is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 28 August 1998.

Is S523 VAO safe to buy?

The MOT history for S523 VAO shows 29 tests with a 58.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S523 VAO 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 S523 VAO. 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.