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A97 JLJ

1983 BMW 518

White Petrol 1766cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jun 2027
Tests20 (13 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate65%

Mileage

93,626 mi
Last recorded93,626 miles
Recorded on16 Jun 2026
Typical for 1983 BMW 51893,552 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

RegistrationA97 JLJ
MakeBMW
Model518
Year1983
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,766cc

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

13 pass 7 fail
Pass 16 Jun 2026 93,626 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2023 93,626 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Pass 1 Oct 2022 93,610 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Pass 21 Oct 2021 93,594 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 9 Sep 2021 93,593 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 18 Oct 2018 93,567 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2018 93,566 miles

Headlamp aim not tested due to dipped beam not working (4.1.2 (b))

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

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

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Sep 2017 93,552 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2017 93,552 miles

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

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

Pass 14 Jun 2016 93,551 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 8 Jun 2016 93,551 miles

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

Brake fluid warning lamp inoperative (3.6.G.2)

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 8 Mar 2011 93,553 miles

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

Fail 2 Mar 2011 93,553 miles

Front Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Pass 26 Feb 2010 93,553 miles
Fail 26 Feb 2010 93,553 miles

Rear Exhaust has a part missing (7.1.1a)

Pass 26 Feb 2009 93,553 miles

rear bumper in poor condition

Pass 26 Feb 2008 93,553 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2007 93,553 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2006 93,553 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2006 93,553 miles

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

bonnet struts defective

oil leak

How Reliable is the BMW 518?

Based on 62,660 MOT tests across 8,904 vehicles.

74.0%
Pass Rate
6,367
Miles/Year
41
Year Lifespan
8,904
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,373
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,837
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,465
position lamp(s) not working 1,178
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,104
Full BMW 518 reliability report

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A97 JLJ is a 1983 BMW 518 in White with a 1,766cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65%.

Across all 1983 BMW 518 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 93,552 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 518 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 3,373 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A97 JLJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 518 typically stays on UK roads for around 41 years. At 43 years old, this BMW 518 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A97 JLJ?

You can check the full history of A97 JLJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A97 JLJ registered?

A97 JLJ is a 1983 BMW 518, first registered on 22 November 1983.

Is A97 JLJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for A97 JLJ shows 20 tests with a 65% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A97 JLJ 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 A97 JLJ. 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.