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V388 PHJ

1999 BMW 523

Green Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Oct 2026
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

118,290 mi
Last recorded118,290 miles
Recorded on7 Oct 2025
Typical for 1999 BMW 523117,158 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

RegistrationV388 PHJ
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1999
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 3 fail
Pass 7 Oct 2025 118,290 miles

All suspension and braking components slightly corroded

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Gear box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Oil leak, but not excessive Diff oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2024 116,703 miles

All suspension and braking components slightly corroded

Pass 16 Oct 2023 115,739 miles

Rear Coil spring corroded Both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Oct 2023 115,739 miles

Rear Coil spring corroded Both (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 18 Oct 2022 114,157 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) n/s/f and o/s/f ()

Pass 21 Oct 2021 112,172 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) n/s/f and o/s/f ()

Fail 20 Sep 2021 112,167 miles

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded pipes around tank badly corroded. (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength n/s/r and o/s/r jacking mounts inner seals holed within 30cm. (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside and nearside fronts undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin inner pads on limit advise replacement soon. (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) n/s/f and o/s/f. ()

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing n/s/f and o/s/f. (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing badly cracked advise replacement soon. (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated n/s/r and o/s/r. (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all rear pipes corroded. (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 21 Sep 2020 111,166 miles

Both front and offside rear tyres cracking slightly

Both rear sills near jacking points showing signs of corrosion

Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both rear (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside and nearside fronts undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear sections of both front to rear to flexi hoses steel pipes undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 23 Apr 2019 110,118 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside and nearside fronts undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear sections of both front to rear to flexi hoses steel pipes undersealed (1.1.11 (c))

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 May 2018 109,002 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both rear (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre also cracking in tread ()

Offside rear tyre cracking in tread

Rear Brake Pipes Undersealed

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

Valve stem slightly damaged Both rear tyre (4.1.D.1e)

Fail 9 May 2018 109,002 miles

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

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

Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both rear (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre also cracking in tread ()

Offside rear tyre cracking in tread

Rear Brake Pipes Undersealed

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

Valve stem slightly damaged Both rear tyre (4.1.D.1e)

Pass 12 May 2017 106,454 miles

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

Brake hose slightly deteriorated Both rear (3.6.B.4d)

Rear Brake Pipes Undersealed

Pass 7 Jun 2016 105,287 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2015 104,049 miles

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

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

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

Rear sills are starting to corrode above jacking points.

Pass 19 May 2014 99,099 miles

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

Pass 23 May 2013 96,837 miles
Pass 21 May 2012 95,230 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 16 May 2011 93,014 miles
Pass 17 May 2010 89,421 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2009 86,344 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2008 85,189 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2007 81,909 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2006 76,778 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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V388 PHJ is a 1999 BMW 523 in Green with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

Across all 1999 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 117,158 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 V388 PHJ, 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 27 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 V388 PHJ?

You can check the full history of V388 PHJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was V388 PHJ registered?

V388 PHJ is a 1999 BMW 523, first registered on 1 September 1999.

Is V388 PHJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for V388 PHJ shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does V388 PHJ 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 V388 PHJ. 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.