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AB56 COW

2012 BMW 118

Black Diesel 1995cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Oct 2026
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

122,882 mi
Last recorded122,882 miles
Recorded on10 Oct 2025
Typical for 2012 BMW 11870,227 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationAB56 COW
MakeBMW
Model118
Year2012
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,995cc

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

11 pass 5 fail
Pass 10 Oct 2025 122,882 miles

Exhaust flexi deteriorated

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened Both N/S & O/S rear bolt mountings (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Fail 29 Sep 2025 122,879 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened Both N/S & O/S rear bolt mountings (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 2 Oct 2024 118,908 miles

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 21 Aug 2023 112,959 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2023 112,950 miles

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

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

Pass 2 Aug 2022 107,940 miles

Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 9 Aug 2021 97,595 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2020 82,437 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2019 69,459 miles
Fail 16 Aug 2019 69,459 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 9 Aug 2018 54,788 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2017 48,113 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2017 48,113 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 23 Aug 2016 42,000 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2016 42,000 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Pass 24 Jul 2015 32,768 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 118?

Based on 1,923,256 MOT tests across 197,877 vehicles.

81.5%
Pass Rate
6,893
Miles/Year
22
Year Lifespan
197,877
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,763
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14,229
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,699
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 8,439
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 6,974
Full BMW 118 reliability report

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AB56 COW is a 2012 BMW 118 in Black with a 1,995cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

Across all 2012 BMW 118 models, the average MOT pass rate is 79.7% with a typical mileage of 70,227 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 118 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,763 recorded failures. If you're considering buying AB56 COW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 118 typically stays on UK roads for around 22 years. At 14 years old, this BMW 118 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AB56 COW?

You can check the full history of AB56 COW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AB56 COW registered?

AB56 COW is a 2012 BMW 118, first registered on 17 August 2012.

Is AB56 COW safe to buy?

The MOT history for AB56 COW shows 16 tests with a 68.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AB56 COW 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 AB56 COW. 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.