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S581 MGM

1998 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Oct 2015
Tests16 (9 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate56.3%

Mileage

191,746 mi
Last recorded191,746 miles
Recorded on25 Sep 2015
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS581 MGM
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

9 pass 7 fail
Fail 25 Sep 2015 191,746 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

baby seat fitted to rear

Fail 2 Oct 2014 179,977 miles

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

Both Front brake discs are slightly worn

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

Rear exhaust heat shield is loose

Pass 2 Oct 2014 179,977 miles

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

Both Front brake discs are slightly worn

Rear exhaust heat shield is loose

Pass 20 Sep 2013 170,605 miles

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

Fail 19 Sep 2013 170,605 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 29 Aug 2012 152,834 miles

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

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

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

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

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

nsr tyre 2 to 3 mm tread left

Pass 15 Sep 2011 137,801 miles

dampness around rear diff

Fail 2 Sep 2011 137,655 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Fail 16 Sep 2010 125,495 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 16 Sep 2010 125,495 miles

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

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

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

Pass 7 Sep 2009 115,273 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

slight water damage to rear no plate

Fail 7 Sep 2009 115,273 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

slight water damage to rear no plate

Pass 16 Sep 2008 106,094 miles

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

stone chip windscreen

water damage rear no plate

Fail 6 Sep 2007 91,001 miles

Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

front discs ridged and worn

front no plate cracked

front tyres getting low on edges

water damage rear no plate

Pass 6 Sep 2007 91,001 miles

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

front discs ridged and worn

front no plate cracked

front tyres getting low on edges

water damage rear no plate

Pass 15 Sep 2006 80,407 miles

front and rear number plates deteriorating.

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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S581 MGM is a 1998 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.3%.

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 S581 MGM, 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 S581 MGM?

You can check the full history of S581 MGM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S581 MGM registered?

S581 MGM is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 25 September 1998.

Is S581 MGM safe to buy?

The MOT history for S581 MGM shows 16 tests with a 56.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S581 MGM 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 S581 MGM. 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.