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A12 SJS

1988 BMW 3 Series

White Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jun 2026
Tests24 (17 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate70.8%

Mileage

106,623 mi
Last recorded106,623 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 3 Series118,461 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

RegistrationA12 SJS
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1988
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

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

17 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2025 106,623 miles

Coolant leak ()

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Nearside & Offside (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil Nearside & Offside (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Nearside & Offside (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Sub-frame pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Nearside & Offside (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play Nearside & Offside (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy Nearside & Offside (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 26 Mar 2024 106,623 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn both sides (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides (1.1.11 (c))

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2023 106,442 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 3 Apr 2023 106,441 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 22 Mar 2022 105,474 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 25 Feb 2021 104,659 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 21 Oct 2019 103,964 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Sep 2018 103,935 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 31 Aug 2018 103,934 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Brake pedal spongy

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 1 Sep 2017 103,696 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Inner Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

brake pedal spongy

Fail 29 Aug 2017 103,696 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Inner Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

brake pedal spongy

Pass 4 Sep 2015 101,355 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 4 Sep 2015 101,355 miles

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 2 Sep 2014 96,939 miles

power steering pipe damp

power steering stiff and noisey

Pass 14 Aug 2013 94,989 miles

power steering is slightly stiff

power steering pipe damp

Pass 28 Sep 2011 94,378 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2010 94,099 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2010 94,097 miles

Front registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Rear registration plate character(s) not correctly formed (6.3.4b)

Pass 5 Mar 2009 92,836 miles
Fail 5 Mar 2009 92,836 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WORN CLOSE TO LIMIT.

REAR SILENCER WEAK WITH CORROSION.

Pass 7 Mar 2008 91,749 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 19 Mar 2007 90,727 miles

BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS WORN.

Fail 19 Mar 2007 90,727 miles

BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS WORN.

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 3 Mar 2006 88,518 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 3 Series?

Based on 12,840,406 MOT tests across 1,004,285 vehicles.

75.1%
Pass Rate
6,672
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,004,285
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 485,475
Brake pipe excessively corroded 323,327
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 253,205
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 185,099
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 182,360
Full BMW 3 Series reliability report

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A12 SJS is a 1988 BMW 3 Series in White with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.8%.

Across all 1988 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.1% with a typical mileage of 118,461 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 3 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 485,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A12 SJS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 3 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 38 years old, this BMW 3 Series is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A12 SJS?

You can check the full history of A12 SJS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A12 SJS registered?

A12 SJS is a 1988 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 30 December 1988.

Is A12 SJS safe to buy?

The MOT history for A12 SJS shows 24 tests with a 70.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A12 SJS 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 A12 SJS. 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.