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S85 FEC

1998 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 May 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

135,840 mi
Last recorded135,840 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS85 FEC
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2026 135,840 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2025 135,752 miles
Pass 9 May 2024 135,603 miles

Central Front Lower Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 30 Apr 2024 135,603 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Outer ball joint dust cover. (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low Unable to adjust. (4.1.2 (a))

Central Front Lower Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jun 2023 134,989 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 4 May 2023 134,983 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 12 May 2022 134,758 miles
Pass 13 May 2021 134,547 miles
Fail 13 May 2021 134,536 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Pass 18 Jul 2019 134,603 miles

Nearside Front sill very small hole (not excessive corrosion)

Fail 18 Jul 2019 134,603 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front sill very small hole (not excessive corrosion)

Pass 12 Jul 2018 134,345 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2017 134,257 miles
Fail 17 Jul 2017 134,257 miles

Fuel tank insecure (7.2.1)

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

Pass 28 Jun 2016 133,996 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2015 133,082 miles

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

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

nearside rear driveshaft leaking grease from outer joint (corroded)

Fail 7 Jul 2015 133,082 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

nearside rear driveshaft leaking grease from outer joint (corroded)

Pass 2 Jul 2014 129,676 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2013 125,281 miles

Front to rear brake pipes corroded

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

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

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

Tread cracking on o/s/f tyre

n/s/f brake disc back plate corroded and loose

o/s/f brake disc back plate corroded and loose

o/s/f tyre worn on inner edge

slight play in n/s/r lower knuckle joint

Pass 27 Jun 2012 120,100 miles

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 11 Jul 2011 115,817 miles

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

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

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

Fail 6 Jul 2011 115,705 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

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

Fail 8 Jul 2010 111,623 miles

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

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Pass 8 Jul 2010 111,623 miles

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

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 13 Jul 2009 106,517 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)

Fail 13 Jul 2009 106,517 miles

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

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)

Pass 27 Jun 2008 100,723 miles

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

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

rear number plate figures fading

Fail 27 Jun 2008 100,723 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

rear number plate figures fading

Pass 11 Jul 2007 94,436 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Jul 2007 94,428 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Jul 2006 87,823 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

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.

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S85 FEC is a 1998 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 S85 FEC, 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 S85 FEC?

You can check the full history of S85 FEC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S85 FEC registered?

S85 FEC is a 1998 BMW 523, first registered on 1 August 1998.

Is S85 FEC safe to buy?

The MOT history for S85 FEC shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S85 FEC 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 S85 FEC. 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.