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C996 PFL

1986 BMW 3 Series

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 May 2027
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

92,734 mi
Last recorded92,734 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
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

RegistrationC996 PFL
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1986
ColourBlue
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

8 pass 4 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 92,734 miles

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

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

exhaust heatshield is loose........

Pass 28 Jun 2025 92,734 miles

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

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

exhaust heatshield loose........

Fail 28 Jun 2025 92,734 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

exhaust heatshield loose........

Fail 15 Mar 2025 92,734 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor in wheel arch....... (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

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

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill........ (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength spring seat....... (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn both rear sub frame bushes........ (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 8 May 2014 90,853 miles

Slight play in nearside front steering rack end

Slight play in offside front lower arm ball joint

Various underside areas corroded

Pass 28 May 2012 89,419 miles

o/s and n/s floors covered in protective coating over re[airs

rear x member covered in protective coating

Fail 24 May 2012 89,414 miles

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

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Offside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

o/s and n/s floors covered in protective coating over re[airs

rear x member covered in protective coating

Pass 14 May 2011 87,134 miles
Pass 6 May 2010 86,951 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2010 86,949 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Nearside Front Headlamps matched pair are incorrectly positioned (1.7.3)

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

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 7 Mar 2009 86,580 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2006 85,809 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

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C996 PFL is a 1986 BMW 3 Series in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 C996 PFL, 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 C996 PFL?

You can check the full history of C996 PFL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C996 PFL registered?

C996 PFL is a 1986 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 6 May 1986.

Is C996 PFL safe to buy?

The MOT history for C996 PFL shows 12 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C996 PFL 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 C996 PFL. 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.