CarVerify

Free Car Check

N166 HOY

1996 BMW 316

Blue Petrol 1596cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Jan 2027
Tests18 (16 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.9%

Mileage

81,144 mi
Last recorded81,144 miles
Recorded on31 Jan 2026
Typical for 1996 BMW 316104,488 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

RegistrationN166 HOY
MakeBMW
Model316
Year1996
ColourBlue
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

16 pass 2 fail
Pass 31 Jan 2026 81,144 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2021 77,020 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Exhaust silencer slightly loose (8.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Offside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

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

Pass 26 Jun 2019 75,982 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Pass 27 Jun 2018 74,850 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Pass 17 May 2017 73,620 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak ()

Pass 24 May 2016 70,831 miles
Pass 8 May 2015 58,045 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2014 56,727 miles
Fail 4 May 2013 56,628 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 4 May 2013 56,628 miles

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

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

Pass 2 May 2012 56,227 miles

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

Pass 6 May 2011 56,110 miles

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

Pass 6 May 2010 52,949 miles
Pass 6 May 2009 52,066 miles
Fail 1 May 2008 46,104 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 1 May 2008 46,104 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 May 2007 41,614 miles
Pass 4 May 2006 39,493 miles

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

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

N166 HOY is a 1996 BMW 316 in Blue with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.9%.

Across all 1996 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.6% with a typical mileage of 104,488 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 N166 HOY, 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 30 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 N166 HOY?

You can check the full history of N166 HOY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N166 HOY registered?

N166 HOY is a 1996 BMW 316, first registered on 17 May 1996.

Is N166 HOY safe to buy?

The MOT history for N166 HOY shows 18 tests with a 88.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N166 HOY 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 N166 HOY. 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.