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J538 TEW

1992 BMW 518

Black Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 May 2025
Tests26 (18 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

184,805 mi
Last recorded184,805 miles
Recorded on7 May 2024
Typical for 1992 BMW 518135,059 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ538 TEW
MakeBMW
Model518
Year1992
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

18 pass 8 fail
Pass 7 May 2024 184,805 miles

Exhaust slight leak from rear box

General underbody corrosion present

Lower steering column bush play detected

Fail 3 May 2024 184,803 miles

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Brake hose damaged and likely to fail (1.1.12 (a)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust slight leak from rear box

General underbody corrosion present

Lower steering column bush play detected

Pass 6 May 2023

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

McPherson strut Top bush or bearing rough on rotation

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

slight play, steering joints

Pass 13 May 2022

Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced covered in thick underseal limiting inspection (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced covered in thick underseal limiting inspection (6.1.1 (c) (i))

slight play, steering joints

Pass 15 Mar 2021

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

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

steering joints slight play

Pass 23 Mar 2020

Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

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

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp does not illuminate (7.1.6 (a))

Various chassis parts front and rear covered in thick underseal limiting inspection

Pass 27 Feb 2019
Fail 15 Feb 2019

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Apr 2018

Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement n/s & o/s rear inner bushes (2.4.G.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Fail 5 Apr 2018

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded n/s & o/s to flexi's (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded main run to T piece (3.6.B.2c)

Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement n/s & o/s rear inner bushes (2.4.G.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Pass 6 Apr 2017

Brake pipe slightly corroded All pipes greased (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 30 Mar 2017

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner & outer sill area (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement n/s & o/s front bushes (2.4.G.2)

Brake pipe slightly corroded All pipes greased (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 16 Apr 2016

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

n/s & o/s front brake pipes to flexi cleaned & greased

Fail 12 Apr 2016

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

fuel pipes corroded

Pass 13 Apr 2015 60,424 miles

SURFACE CORROSION ON BOTH NEARSIDE REAR AND OFFSIDE REAR INNER SILLS NEXT TO SUSPENSION MOUNTINGS

Pass 16 Apr 2014

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 15 Apr 2014

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

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

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 12 Apr 2013 74,920 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

SURFACE CORROSION AROUND OFFSIDE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINT

Pass 26 Mar 2012

Fuel pipes corroded

Fail 15 Mar 2012

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Inner Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Fuel pipes corroded

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 15 Apr 2011 148,647 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Nearside Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

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

front disc worn and pitted

Pass 21 Oct 2009 148,394 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 31 Oct 2008 142,809 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2007 138,155 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2007 138,106 miles

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

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

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

Pass 12 Aug 2006 130,369 miles

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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J538 TEW is a 1992 BMW 518 in Black with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

Across all 1992 BMW 518 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.4% with a typical mileage of 135,059 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 J538 TEW, 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 34 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 J538 TEW?

You can check the full history of J538 TEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J538 TEW registered?

J538 TEW is a 1992 BMW 518, first registered on 21 May 1992.

Is J538 TEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for J538 TEW shows 26 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J538 TEW 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 J538 TEW. 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.