CarVerify

Free Car Check

S701 FDL

1998 BMW 523

Silver Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Mar 2018
Tests20 (12 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

141,757 mi
Last recorded141,757 miles
Recorded on24 Feb 2017
Typical for 1998 BMW 523117,395 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS701 FDL
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

12 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Feb 2017 141,757 miles

All of the rear sub-frame bushes are slightly worn

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 24 Feb 2017 141,756 miles

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

All of the rear sub-frame bushes are slightly worn

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

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

Oil leak ()

Pass 2 Mar 2016 137,638 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front inner bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front inner arm (2.4.G.2)

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

all four shocks slightly spongy

underbody surface rust

Fail 29 Feb 2016 137,634 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc not located in the diff properly (2.4.G.4e)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front inner bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement front inner arm (2.4.G.2)

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

all four shocks slightly spongy

underbody surface rust

Fail 1 Feb 2016 137,632 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits bad fuel?? (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 1 Oct 2014 136,677 miles

Offside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

both front tyres have stepped tread on the inside edge

both rear sills have slight corrosion

fuel tank straps corroded

n/s/r handbrake cable deteriorated

Pass 22 Aug 2013 133,233 miles

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

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 20 Aug 2013 133,169 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the light source so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 10 Sep 2012 130,057 miles

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)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

air bag warning light on

Pass 8 Sep 2011 123,207 miles

N/S hand brake cable damaged.

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear sill starting to corroad.

Fail 1 Sep 2011 122,916 miles

Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

N/S hand brake cable damaged.

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear sill starting to corroad.

Pass 7 Sep 2010 115,782 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 9 Sep 2009 107,726 miles

Offside 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)

Fail 9 Sep 2009 107,726 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 5 Sep 2008 100,036 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Pass 4 Sep 2007 90,575 miles
Fail 4 Sep 2007 90,575 miles

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

Fail 31 Aug 2007 90,550 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Pass 13 Sep 2006 82,782 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2005 72,071 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

S701 FDL is a 1998 BMW 523 in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 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 S701 FDL, 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 S701 FDL?

You can check the full history of S701 FDL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S701 FDL registered?

S701 FDL is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 14 December 1998.

Is S701 FDL safe to buy?

The MOT history for S701 FDL shows 20 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 S701 FDL 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 S701 FDL. 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.