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E178 YGS

1987 BMW 518

White Petrol 1766cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jun 2027
Tests18 (16 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.9%

Mileage

179,462 mi
Last recorded179,462 miles
Recorded on20 May 2026
Typical for 1987 BMW 518118,725 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationE178 YGS
MakeBMW
Model518
Year1987
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

16 pass 2 fail
Pass 20 May 2026 179,462 miles
Pass 29 May 2025 177,564 miles
Pass 31 May 2024 174,640 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 26 May 2023 172,048 miles
Pass 25 May 2022 168,996 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2021 164,922 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2019 164,905 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2014 162,429 miles

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

Pass 11 Mar 2013 159,686 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

nearside front chassis corroded slightly

nearside front drop link boot split

Pass 13 Mar 2012 157,594 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2011 155,331 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2010 149,837 miles
Pass 11 Mar 2009 144,670 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

offside mainbeam light glass has a small crack

Pass 1 Apr 2008 140,826 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Mar 2008 140,826 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

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

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 26 Mar 2007 138,622 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2006 133,930 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2006 133,882 miles

Nearside Rear Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

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

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

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

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

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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E178 YGS is a 1987 BMW 518 in White with a 1,766cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.9%.

Across all 1987 BMW 518 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.5% with a typical mileage of 118,725 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 E178 YGS, 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 39 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 E178 YGS?

You can check the full history of E178 YGS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E178 YGS registered?

E178 YGS is a 1987 BMW 518, first registered on 30 October 1987.

Is E178 YGS safe to buy?

The MOT history for E178 YGS shows 18 tests with a 88.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E178 YGS 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 E178 YGS. 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.