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A15 SBC

1986 BMW 3 Series

Bronze Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Aug 2026
Tests7 (5 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

99,815 mi
Last recorded99,815 miles
Recorded on18 Aug 2025
Typical for 1986 BMW 3 Series111,050 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

RegistrationA15 SBC
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1986
ColourBronze
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

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

5 pass 2 fail
Pass 18 Aug 2025 99,815 miles

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

Fail 18 Aug 2025 99,815 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 16 Aug 2024 99,650 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2023 98,882 miles

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

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

slight surface corrosion on sills and jacking points

Pass 27 Aug 2022 98,477 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases manifold (6.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

all four tyres starting to crack/perish

corrosion to both front jacking points

slight play in steering rack

various points of corrosion - nothing yet excessive in a prescribed area

Pass 4 May 2006 97,945 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2006 97,945 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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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A15 SBC is a 1986 BMW 3 Series in Bronze with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 7 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1986 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.2% with a typical mileage of 111,050 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 A15 SBC, 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 40 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 A15 SBC?

You can check the full history of A15 SBC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A15 SBC registered?

A15 SBC is a 1986 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 24 January 1986.

Is A15 SBC safe to buy?

The MOT history for A15 SBC shows 7 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A15 SBC 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 A15 SBC. 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.