CarVerify

Free Car Check

L539 VBY

1994 BMW 316

Black Petrol 1596cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Apr 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

174,382 mi
Last recorded174,382 miles
Recorded on20 Apr 2026
Typical for 1994 BMW 316115,599 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

RegistrationL539 VBY
MakeBMW
Model316
Year1994
ColourBlack
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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 20 Apr 2026 174,382 miles

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

Pass 9 Jun 2025 174,181 miles

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 27 May 2025 174,180 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 18 Aug 2022 173,968 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front inner wheel arch corroded by bumper end

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside stop light dim

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component pipes on rack (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Inner wheel arches by bumper ends holed/corroded (both sides)

Fail 11 Aug 2022 173,968 miles

Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded and front to rear as marked (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases blowing around manifold/down pipe (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Offside Front inner wheel arch corroded by bumper end

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Offside stop light dim

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component pipes on rack (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Inner wheel arches by bumper ends holed/corroded (both sides)

Pass 20 Apr 2019 168,932 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Inner Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.1.3 (c) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Inner Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.1.3 (c) (i))

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

Pass 23 Apr 2018 164,319 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Fail 23 Apr 2018 164,319 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Pass 20 Apr 2017 159,061 miles

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

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

both front inner steering joints have slight play

Pass 20 Apr 2016 155,813 miles

Play in inner steering joints

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

Pass 5 Mar 2015 150,861 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Fail 5 Mar 2015 150,861 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Nearside Front Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Passenger's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

Offside Front Battery insecure (1.9.1)

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

Offside Rear Passenger's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 3 Mar 2014 146,061 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2013 138,375 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2012 130,889 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2011 124,744 miles
Pass 27 Jan 2011 124,752 miles
Fail 24 Oct 2010 122,894 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

near side door mirror cracked

Pass 24 Oct 2010 122,894 miles

near side door mirror cracked

Pass 18 Apr 2010 120,099 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2010 120,099 miles

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Pass 8 Apr 2009 115,118 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2009 11,525 miles

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

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 14 Feb 2008 111,149 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Nov 2006 106,285 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2006 102,548 miles
Fail 10 Jan 2006 102,548 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.6.D2)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.6.D2)

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

L539 VBY is a 1994 BMW 316 in Black with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

Across all 1994 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 63.8% with a typical mileage of 115,599 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 L539 VBY, 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 32 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 L539 VBY?

You can check the full history of L539 VBY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L539 VBY registered?

L539 VBY is a 1994 BMW 316, first registered on 1 March 1994.

Is L539 VBY safe to buy?

The MOT history for L539 VBY shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L539 VBY 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 L539 VBY. 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.