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J44 BUV

1998 BMW 316

Red Petrol 1596cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Oct 2026
Tests29 (15 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate51.7%

Mileage

201,492 mi
Last recorded201,492 miles
Recorded on31 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 31698,622 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ44 BUV
MakeBMW
Model316
Year1998
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

15 pass 14 fail
Pass 31 Oct 2025 201,492 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Fail 15 Oct 2025 201,492 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Emissions unable to be completed car leaking water and getting hot (8.2.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed inner wall cracks (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing and worn on edges (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Udernearth very rusty

Pass 17 Mar 2021 195,918 miles

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

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

Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy both (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 4 Mar 2021 195,916 miles

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

Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy both (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 14 Feb 2020

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 12 Feb 2020

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Feb 2019 185,132 miles

Outer Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect both (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 1 Feb 2019 185,130 miles

Driver's seat with a defective structure (6.2.5 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated both (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Outer Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect both (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 26 Jan 2018

Rear Lower Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both (2.4.G.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 24 Jan 2018

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage mirror (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion wing (6.1.C.1)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Rear Upper Shock absorber casing damaged externally so the unit does not function both (2.7.2a)

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

Rear Lower Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both (2.4.G.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 25 Jan 2017 168,026 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2017 168,026 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 11 Jun 2015 152,420 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2015 152,419 miles

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

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

Pass 12 May 2014 143,234 miles
Fail 8 May 2014 143,234 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front registration plate faded (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 7 May 2013 133,401 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 3 May 2012 120,997 miles
Fail 3 May 2012 120,996 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 4 May 2011 110,692 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Fail 28 Apr 2011 110,582 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 29 Apr 2010 96,371 miles
Fail 28 Apr 2010 96,323 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp sequence is incorrect (3.4.1d)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Brake master cylinder fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1e)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 2 Feb 2009 80,152 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 28 Jan 2009 80,024 miles

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 30 Jan 2008 73,880 miles

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

both front tyres cracking in tread area

both rear brake pipes corroding

o/s/r tyre in poor condition

only just passed basic emission test

Fail 29 Jan 2008 73,859 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

both front tyres cracking in tread area

both rear brake pipes corroding

o/s/r tyre in poor condition

only just passed basic emission test

Pass 7 Nov 2006 71,863 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2006 71,845 miles

Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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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

J44 BUV is a 1998 BMW 316 in Red with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 51.7%.

Across all 1998 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 98,622 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 316 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 71,150 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J44 BUV, 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 28 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 J44 BUV?

You can check the full history of J44 BUV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J44 BUV registered?

J44 BUV is a 1998 BMW 316, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is J44 BUV safe to buy?

The MOT history for J44 BUV shows 29 tests with a 51.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J44 BUV 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 J44 BUV. 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.