CarVerify

Free Car Check

E185 PHG

1988 BMW 535

Silver Petrol 3430cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Aug 2026
Tests28 (17 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate60.7%

Mileage

103,564 mi
Last recorded103,564 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 535143,296 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationE185 PHG
MakeBMW
Model535
Year1988
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,430cc

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

17 pass 11 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2025 103,564 miles

Exhaust mounting defective rear and middle (6.1.2 (a))

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

Rear Registration plate insecure but not likely to fall off and backing plate (0.1 (a))

Fail 8 Aug 2025 103,558 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Exhaust mounting defective rear and middle (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear Registration plate insecure but not likely to fall off and backing plate (0.1 (a))

Pass 23 Nov 2023 103,145 miles

Exhaust mounting defective Multiple mounts defective, exhaust still secure. (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Fail 22 Nov 2023 103,139 miles

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Exhaust mounting defective Multiple mounts defective, exhaust still secure. (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 10 Nov 2021 102,945 miles

Central Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 4 Nov 2021 102,932 miles

Emissions not tested due to fuel leak (8.2.1.2 (d))

Fuel pipe leaking too fuel pressure regulator (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle rubbing on coilover (5.2.3 (f))

Central Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 2 Sep 2020 100,633 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corroded but not in designated area (jacking point). Advise to repair (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corroded but not in designated area(jacking point). Advise to repair. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 2 Sep 2020 100,633 miles

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corroded but not in designated area (jacking point). Advise to repair (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced corroded but not in designated area(jacking point). Advise to repair. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 5 Sep 2019 99,000 miles

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

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

Rear fuel pipes badly corroded.

Fail 4 Sep 2019 99,000 miles

Nearside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear at rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Rear fuel pipes badly corroded.

Pass 6 Sep 2018 96,938 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 5 Sep 2018 96,938 miles

Offside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 6 Sep 2017 94,864 miles

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear at rear (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion outer to inner sill but not in prescribed area. Advise to repair. (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 1 Sep 2016 92,336 miles

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

Fail 31 Aug 2016 92,336 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play idler (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Pass 27 Aug 2015 89,084 miles

Nearside Rear tyre perrished

Offside Rear tyre perrished

oil leak

Fail 27 Aug 2015 89,084 miles

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Nearside Rear tyre perrished

Offside Rear tyre perrished

oil leak

Pass 11 Sep 2014 86,394 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2014 86,394 miles

Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Pass 6 Sep 2013 82,320 miles

n/s rear tyre perrishing

o/s rear tyre perrishing

Pass 19 Sep 2012 77,822 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 28 Sep 2011 74,532 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2010 70,349 miles

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

Oil leak

Fail 16 Oct 2009 66,047 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 16 Oct 2009 66,047 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 1 Oct 2008 61,534 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 18 Sep 2007 57,818 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2007 57,818 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

How Reliable is the BMW 535?

Based on 216,162 MOT tests across 18,035 vehicles.

78.7%
Pass Rate
7,094
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
18,035
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,346
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,237
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2,669
Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,608
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 2,438
Full BMW 535 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

E185 PHG is a 1988 BMW 535 in Silver with a 3,430cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.7%.

Across all 1988 BMW 535 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.8% with a typical mileage of 143,296 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 535 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 6,346 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E185 PHG, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 535 typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 38 years old, this BMW 535 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E185 PHG?

You can check the full history of E185 PHG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E185 PHG registered?

E185 PHG is a 1988 BMW 535, first registered on 22 June 1988.

Is E185 PHG safe to buy?

The MOT history for E185 PHG shows 28 tests with a 60.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E185 PHG 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 E185 PHG. 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.