1998 BMW 523i — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

63.2%

Latest Pass Rate

1,177

Total Tests (All Years)

139,959 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 63.2%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 7.8% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

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

11 yrs47.2%

→ ↑9.1%

12 yrs56.3%

→ ↓3.8%

13 yrs52.5%

→ ↑0.7%

14 yrs53.2%

→ ↓2.8%

15 yrs50.4%

→ ↓6.2%

16 yrs44.2%

→ ↑0.2%

17 yrs44.4%

→ ↑5.6%

18 yrs50.0%

→ ↑13.2%

19 yrs63.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	47.2%	282
12 yrs	56.3%	197
13 yrs	52.5%	183
14 yrs	53.2%	139
15 yrs	50.4%	115
16 yrs	44.2%	95
17 yrs	44.4%	72
18 yrs	50.0%	56
19 yrs	63.2%	38

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (19 yrs)	63.2%	38
2016 (18 yrs)	50%	56
2015 (17 yrs)	44.4%	72
2014 (16 yrs)	44.2%	95
2013 (15 yrs)	50.4%	115
2012 (14 yrs)	53.2%	139
2011 (13 yrs)	52.5%	183
2010 (12 yrs)	56.3%	197
2009 (11 yrs)	47.2%	282

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 282Avg Mileage 126,665Top Failure Brakes — 35.1%

2010High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 197Avg Mileage 131,643Top Failure Brakes — 31.0%

2011High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 183Avg Mileage 138,530Top Failure Brakes — 37.2%

2012High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 139Avg Mileage 137,106Top Failure Suspension — 32.4%

2013High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 115Avg Mileage 140,962Top Failure Brakes — 79.1%

2014High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 95Avg Mileage 143,182Top Failure Brakes — 75.8%

2015High Fail Rate

44.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 72Avg Mileage 140,659Top Failure Suspension — 68.1%

2016High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 56Avg Mileage 139,315Top Failure Suspension — 80.4%

2017High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 38Avg Mileage 139,959Top Failure Brakes — 76.3%

MOT results for 1998 BMW 523i by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	47.2%	282	126,665	Brakes — 35.1%
2010	12	56.3%	197	131,643	Brakes — 31.0%
2011	13	52.5%	183	138,530	Brakes — 37.2%
2012	14	53.2%	139	137,106	Suspension — 32.4%
2013	15	50.4%	115	140,962	Brakes — 79.1%
2014	16	44.2%	95	143,182	Brakes — 75.8%
2015	17	44.4%	72	140,659	Suspension — 68.1%
2016	18	50.0%	56	139,315	Suspension — 80.4%
2017	19	63.2%	38	139,959	Brakes — 76.3%

Common MOT Failures

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

Brakes

56.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

46.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

36.4%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

26.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

23.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	35.1% (11 yrs)	76.3% (19 yrs)	+41.2%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	23.0% (11 yrs)	52.6% (19 yrs)	+29.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	27.0% (11 yrs)	36.8% (19 yrs)	+9.8%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	19.5% (11 yrs)	21.1% (19 yrs)	+1.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

← Back to BMW 523i overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how BMW 523i cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 1,177 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.