1998 BMW 523 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

56.5%

Latest Pass Rate

26,588

Total Tests (All Years)

128,492 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 BMW 523 as it ages.

11 yrs54.0%

→ ↓2.4%

12 yrs51.6%

→ ↓1.9%

13 yrs49.7%

→ ↓2.1%

14 yrs47.6%

→ ↓1.5%

15 yrs46.1%

→ ↓0.0%

16 yrs46.1%

→ ↑3.1%

17 yrs49.2%

→ ↑2.0%

18 yrs51.2%

→ ↑1.0%

19 yrs52.2%

→ ↑0.6%

20 yrs52.8%

→ ↓2.3%

21 yrs50.5%

→ ↑6.8%

22 yrs57.3%

→ ↑0.6%

23 yrs57.9%

→ ↑3.6%

24 yrs61.5%

→ ↓1.3%

25 yrs60.2%

→ ↓3.7%

26 yrs56.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	54.0%	4,442
12 yrs	51.6%	4,128
13 yrs	49.7%	3,637
14 yrs	47.6%	2,996
15 yrs	46.1%	2,498
16 yrs	46.1%	2,009
17 yrs	49.2%	1,672
18 yrs	51.2%	1,306
19 yrs	52.2%	1,035
20 yrs	52.8%	557
21 yrs	50.5%	499
22 yrs	57.3%	363
23 yrs	57.9%	382
24 yrs	61.5%	273
25 yrs	60.2%	274
26 yrs	56.5%	517

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 BMW 523 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	56.5%	517
2023 (25 yrs)	60.2%	274
2022 (24 yrs)	61.5%	273
2021 (23 yrs)	57.9%	382
2020 (22 yrs)	57.3%	363
2019 (21 yrs)	50.5%	499
2018 (20 yrs)	52.8%	557
2017 (19 yrs)	52.2%	1,035
2016 (18 yrs)	51.2%	1,306
2015 (17 yrs)	49.2%	1,672
2014 (16 yrs)	46.1%	2,009
2013 (15 yrs)	46.1%	2,498
2012 (14 yrs)	47.6%	2,996
2011 (13 yrs)	49.7%	3,637
2010 (12 yrs)	51.6%	4,128
2009 (11 yrs)	54%	4,442

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 4,442Avg Mileage 117,354Top Failure Brakes — 29.6%

2010High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,128Avg Mileage 123,103Top Failure Brakes — 31.8%

2011High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 3,637Avg Mileage 126,233Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,996Avg Mileage 128,533Top Failure Brakes — 34.1%

2013High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,498Avg Mileage 129,516Top Failure Brakes — 87.6%

2014High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,009Avg Mileage 131,641Top Failure Brakes — 97.1%

2015High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,672Avg Mileage 133,804Top Failure Brakes — 81.6%

2016High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,306Avg Mileage 134,004Top Failure Brakes — 74.7%

2017High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,035Avg Mileage 133,228Top Failure Brakes — 72.1%

2018High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 557Avg Mileage 134,211Top Failure Brakes — 76.8%

2019High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 499Avg Mileage 132,764Top Failure Suspension — 79.4%

2020High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 363Avg Mileage 133,250Top Failure Brakes — 61.2%

2021High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 382Avg Mileage 128,370Top Failure Brakes — 64.1%

2022High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 273Avg Mileage 126,319Top Failure Suspension — 54.9%

2023High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 274Avg Mileage 127,760Top Failure Suspension — 58.8%

2024High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 517Avg Mileage 128,492Top Failure Brakes — 51.5%

MOT results for 1998 BMW 523 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	54.0%	4,442	117,354	Brakes — 29.6%
2010	12	51.6%	4,128	123,103	Brakes — 31.8%
2011	13	49.7%	3,637	126,233	Brakes — 33.3%
2012	14	47.6%	2,996	128,533	Brakes — 34.1%
2013	15	46.1%	2,498	129,516	Brakes — 87.6%
2014	16	46.1%	2,009	131,641	Brakes — 97.1%
2015	17	49.2%	1,672	133,804	Brakes — 81.6%
2016	18	51.2%	1,306	134,004	Brakes — 74.7%
2017	19	52.2%	1,035	133,228	Brakes — 72.1%
2018	20	52.8%	557	134,211	Brakes — 76.8%
2019	21	50.5%	499	132,764	Suspension — 79.4%
2020	22	57.3%	363	133,250	Brakes — 61.2%
2021	23	57.9%	382	128,370	Brakes — 64.1%
2022	24	61.5%	273	126,319	Suspension — 54.9%
2023	25	60.2%	274	127,760	Suspension — 58.8%
2024	26	56.5%	517	128,492	Brakes — 51.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 BMW 523, with age trends.

Brakes

61.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

53.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.0%

— Consistent

Tyres

26.6%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.4% (11 yrs)	47.4% (26 yrs)	+26.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	29.6% (11 yrs)	51.5% (26 yrs)	+21.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.9% (11 yrs)	18.2% (26 yrs)	+3.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016

← Back to BMW 523 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the BMW 523 page →

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 523 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 26,588 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.