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S537 MGN

1998 BMW 523

Red Petrol 2500cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires23 Jul 2026
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

106,498 mi
Last recorded106,498 miles
Recorded on24 Jul 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS537 MGN
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,500cc

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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2025 106,498 miles

Brake disc worn, but not excessively all x 4 ..... (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

Rear Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all x 4 .... (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 7 Jun 2024 98,199 miles

Undertrays fitted

Pass 1 May 2023 92,633 miles

vehicle heavily undersealed

Fail 6 Apr 2023 92,630 miles

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired And outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Exhaust has major leak

Fail 4 Mar 2023 92,515 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure inadequately repaired such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Front Coolant leak ()

Nearside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn nearside rear trumpet bush worn (front one) (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))

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

Pass 25 Mar 2022 88,256 miles
Fail 9 Mar 2022 88,236 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure inadequately repaired such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure inadequately repaired such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

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

Pass 25 Nov 2020 86,043 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2019 84,092 miles

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 25 Nov 2019 84,092 miles

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 2 Jan 2019 75,655 miles

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

Fail 2 Jan 2019 75,653 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Pass 8 Jan 2018 66,856 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded Across back axle (3.6.B.2c)

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 3 Jan 2017 58,937 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2016 49,867 miles
Fail 5 Jan 2016 440,303 miles

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 8 Jan 2015 42,436 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 5 Jan 2015 42,436 miles

Nearside Rear Torque/reaction arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Rear Torque/reaction arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 2 Jan 2014 35,795 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 5 Jan 2013 28,103 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2012 20,508 miles
Pass 18 Jan 2011 19,857 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2010 19,379 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2009 18,790 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2008 18,407 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2007 17,736 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2006 16,935 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

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S537 MGN is a 1998 BMW 523 in Red with a 2,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 S537 MGN, 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 S537 MGN?

You can check the full history of S537 MGN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S537 MGN registered?

S537 MGN is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is S537 MGN safe to buy?

The MOT history for S537 MGN shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S537 MGN 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 S537 MGN. 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.