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Bmw 523 - 1997

402.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw 523, model year 1997. Sample size: 105 cars, 200 tests and 804 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 105 cars

The 1997 BMW 523 has a higher overall defect rate of 402 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 20% worse than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, it exhibits significantly better performance in steering and body/structure defects, with rates that are 33% and 42% lower than the average, respectively. However, it struggles in categories such as brakes, visibility, and lights & electrics, showing rates that are considerably higher than the average. Mileage trends indicate increased defects in higher mileage ranges, particularly from 62,000 to 93,000 miles, where the model's defect rate is notably high.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 105 cars

More model years for Bmw 523

1997 1998 1999 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Other models from Bmw

Bmw 114 Bmw 116 Bmw 118 Bmw 120 Bmw 123 Bmw 125 Bmw 216 Bmw 218 Bmw 220 Bmw 316 Bmw 318 Bmw 320 Bmw 330 Bmw 335 Bmw 418 Bmw 420 Bmw 428 Bmw 430 Bmw 435 Bmw 440 Bmw 518 Bmw 520 Bmw 523 Bmw 525 Bmw 528 Bmw 530 Bmw 535 Bmw 630 Bmw 640 Bmw 645 Bmw 650 Bmw 728 Bmw 730 Bmw 740 Bmw 840 Bmw ALPINA Bmw I3 Bmw I4 Bmw IX3 Bmw M2 Bmw M3 Bmw M340D Bmw M4 Bmw M5 Bmw M6 Bmw X1 Bmw X2 Bmw X3 Bmw X4 Bmw X5 Bmw X6 Bmw X7 Bmw Z3 Bmw Z4

Categories

Brakes
▼ 53.1% worse
216.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 34.3% better
18.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▼ 70.6% worse
43.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 40.5% worse
92.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
  • Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 11.3% worse
279.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
Body/Structure
▲ 45.1% better
46.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft flexible coupling: so deteriorated it is likely to fail
Equipment
▲ 9.5% better
20.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • A seat belt:
Other
▼ 47.5% worse
90.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 637 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 55
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 49
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 44
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 42
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 37
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 27
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 22
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 19

Serious faults (Top 10)

Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 6