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A4 MCS

1988 BMW 3 Series

White Petrol 1795cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Jun 2026
Tests9 (5 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

134,757 mi
Last recorded134,757 miles
Recorded on2 Jun 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 3 Series118,461 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA4 MCS
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1988
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,795cc

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 4 fail
Pass 2 Jun 2025 134,757 miles

all tyres slightly perished

new dash fitted with higher mileage

Pass 30 Oct 2018 95,442 miles

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 27 Oct 2018 95,440 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 24 Apr 2017 95,438 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement Inner bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement Inner bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 Sep 2007 95,387 miles

advise:front nearside and offside wishbone bushes.

Pass 19 Jul 2006 95,090 miles
Fail 19 Jul 2006 95,090 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 6 Jun 2005 94,791 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2005 94,781 miles

Nearside Front Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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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A4 MCS is a 1988 BMW 3 Series in White with a 1,795cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 A4 MCS, 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 A4 MCS?

You can check the full history of A4 MCS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A4 MCS registered?

A4 MCS is a 1988 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 10 August 1988.

Is A4 MCS safe to buy?

The MOT history for A4 MCS shows 9 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A4 MCS 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 A4 MCS. 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.