CarVerify

Free Car Check

B788 FJW

1985 BMW 3 Series

Blue Petrol 1766cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires23 Jun 2026
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

140,485 mi
Last recorded140,485 miles
Recorded on24 Jun 2025
Typical for 1985 BMW 3 Series102,156 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationB788 FJW
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1985
ColourBlue
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

16 pass 10 fail
Pass 24 Jun 2025 140,485 miles

Coolant leak

Pass 17 Nov 2020 166,616 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear boot floor corroded and holed

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

front cross member corroded and holed

Fail 10 Nov 2020 166,557 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner rear floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner rear floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength arm mounting point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear boot floor corroded and holed

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

front cross member corroded and holed

Pass 30 May 2019 163,401 miles

Front under radiator cross member corroded

Nearside Front lower door corroded

Offside Rear wheel arch corroded

Rear diff appears to be locked.

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

nearside and offside inner sill heavily undersealed

nearside and offside outer sill lots of welding

Fail 15 May 2019 163,253 miles

Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded and likely to fail (1.1.12 (f) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded and likely to fail (1.1.12 (f) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside door presenting sharp edges.

Pass 30 May 2018 161,615 miles

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 26 Apr 2018 161,428 miles

Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Pass 17 May 2017 157,325 miles
Fail 9 May 2017 157,178 miles

Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Pass 24 May 2016 149,995 miles

Vehicle showing signs of corrosion throughout

Fail 23 May 2016 149,986 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Vehicle showing signs of corrosion throughout

Pass 1 May 2015 147,872 miles

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

corrosion n/s/r inner sill not deemed excessive

corrosion to o/s/f and n/s/f inner arch but not within prescribed areas

o/s wiper blade split

vehicle undersealed

Fail 22 Apr 2015 147,755 miles

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

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

corrosion n/s/r inner sill not deemed excessive

corrosion to o/s/f and n/s/f inner arch but not within prescribed areas

o/s wiper blade split

Pass 30 Apr 2014 144,036 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Oil leak

Fail 15 Apr 2014 143,909 miles

Centre Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Headlamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.7.5c)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Oil leak

Pass 23 Apr 2013 136,084 miles

parts of underbody started to corrode

Fail 15 Apr 2013 136,084 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Front Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

parts of underbody started to corrode

Pass 28 Mar 2012 129,810 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2011 123,449 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 4 Jun 2010 117,645 miles

Both front struts have been repaired by welding

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

both sill panels have been replaced and treated with heavy underseal

Fail 24 May 2010 117,588 miles

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

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 16 Jun 2009 109,615 miles

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

Fail 2 Jun 2009 109,592 miles

Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 28 May 2008 99,232 miles

Nearside Front Lower Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 26 May 2007 83,597 miles
Pass 27 May 2006 71,161 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

B788 FJW is a 1985 BMW 3 Series in Blue with a 1,766cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

Across all 1985 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 102,156 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 B788 FJW, 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 41 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 B788 FJW?

You can check the full history of B788 FJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B788 FJW registered?

B788 FJW is a 1985 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is B788 FJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for B788 FJW shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B788 FJW 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 B788 FJW. 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.