BMW 523
From 4,862 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 523s fare better: 2011 models pass at 77.2% vs 67.5% for 1998.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 209 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 209 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 184 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 154 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 128 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 111 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 100 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 95 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 94 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 88 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 80 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 31.9% of 523 failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 77.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2010 | 81.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 78.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2008 | 70.1% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
8 earlier years
| 2007 | 75.2% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2006 | 70.6% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 74.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction |
| 2000 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 1999 | 66.7% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1998 | 67.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1997 | 78.1% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1996 | 66.7% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 523s tested had between 76,647 and 137,912 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 106,557 median miles, the 523 has 0.025 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 523 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 523 has a 73.4% MOT pass rate based on 4,862 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 523?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 523 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 209 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 523 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 523 is 106,557 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,647 and 137,912 miles.
Buying a used 523?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 73.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.