CarVerify

Free Car Check

E23 SDM

2004 BMW 316

Black Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Mar 2027
Tests21 (16 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate76.2%

Mileage

55,486 mi
Last recorded55,486 miles
Recorded on25 Mar 2026
Typical for 2004 BMW 31669,782 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

RegistrationE23 SDM
MakeBMW
Model316
Year2004
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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 5 fail
Pass 25 Mar 2026 55,486 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

all brake hoses, the ferrules are covered in black paint

all brake pipes, the ferrules are covered in black paint

all suspension components covered in black paint

fuel cap seal cracked

side skirts fitted not allowing full inspection of sills

Pass 5 Jul 2021 48,116 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Jul 2020 45,684 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Saddle bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 3 Jul 2020 45,684 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Saddle bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Pass 19 Jul 2019 43,380 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2018 41,366 miles

Front & rear tyres different aspect ratios

Front Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 12 Sep 2017 38,923 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 12 Sep 2017 38,923 miles

Anti-roll bar inappropriately repaired anti roll bar link was rubbing on shock absorber bracket (2.4.A.2)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 16 Sep 2016 34,050 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2016 34,050 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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)

Pass 28 Aug 2015 29,893 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2014 25,644 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2013 22,460 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2013 22,460 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Pass 4 Sep 2012 18,008 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2011 15,283 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2010 13,360 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2010 13,360 miles

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 27 Aug 2009 10,825 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2008 8,825 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2007 6,325 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 316?

Based on 1,210,990 MOT tests across 108,989 vehicles.

69.2%
Pass Rate
5,781
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
108,989
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 71,150
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 70,761
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 45,241
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 39,617
parking brake recording little or no effort 33,703
Full BMW 316 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

E23 SDM is a 2004 BMW 316 in Black with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.2%.

Across all 2004 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.6% with a typical mileage of 69,782 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 316 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 71,150 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E23 SDM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 316 typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 22 years old, this BMW 316 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E23 SDM?

You can check the full history of E23 SDM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E23 SDM registered?

E23 SDM is a 2004 BMW 316, first registered on 5 September 2004.

Is E23 SDM safe to buy?

The MOT history for E23 SDM shows 21 tests with a 76.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E23 SDM 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 E23 SDM. 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.