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S61 VAM

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Mar 2014
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

171,773 mi
Last recorded171,773 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2014
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationS61 VAM
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

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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

7 pass 4 fail
Fail 29 Apr 2014 171,773 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 12 Mar 2013 166,690 miles

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

Fail 6 Mar 2013 166,690 miles

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

rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Pass 13 Sep 2011 154,577 miles

airbag warning light on

nearside handbrake performance low

nearside rear metal brake pipe corroded

nearside rear tyre bald on inner edge

rear brake pads worn low

Fail 6 Sep 2011 153,820 miles

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

airbag warning light on

nearside handbrake performance low

nearside rear metal brake pipe corroded

nearside rear tyre bald on inner edge

rear brake pads worn low

Pass 15 Sep 2010 143,114 miles

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 17 Sep 2009 136,182 miles

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

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

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

Pass 12 Aug 2008 127,755 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2007 120,968 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2007 120,931 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

offside front anti roll bar link boot split

Pass 30 Aug 2006 110,124 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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S61 VAM is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 S61 VAM, 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 S61 VAM?

You can check the full history of S61 VAM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S61 VAM registered?

S61 VAM is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is S61 VAM safe to buy?

The MOT history for S61 VAM shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S61 VAM 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 S61 VAM. 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.