CarVerify

Free Car Check

E30 SAB

1988 BMW 316

Red Petrol 1596cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Apr 2026
Tests8 (6 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

193,667 mi
Last recorded193,667 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 316109,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationE30 SAB
MakeBMW
Model316
Year1988
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,596cc

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

6 pass 2 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2025 193,667 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2017 193,664 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2012 190,299 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2010 190,048 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 4 Aug 2009 95,409 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Fail 4 Aug 2009 95,408 miles

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Rear Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 17 May 2008 95,240 miles
Fail 9 May 2008 95,234 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Nearside Rear Sub-frame synthetic bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

E30 SAB is a 1988 BMW 316 in Red with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1988 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.8% with a typical mileage of 109,944 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 E30 SAB, 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 38 years old, this BMW 316 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E30 SAB?

You can check the full history of E30 SAB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E30 SAB registered?

E30 SAB is a 1988 BMW 316, first registered on 30 December 1988.

Is E30 SAB safe to buy?

The MOT history for E30 SAB shows 8 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E30 SAB 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 E30 SAB. 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.