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N20 ELV

2012 BMW 3 Series

Black Diesel 1995cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Mar 2027
Tests15 (11 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate73.3%

Mileage

176,295 mi
Last recorded176,295 miles
Recorded on5 Mar 2026
Typical for 2012 BMW 3 Series77,866 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationN20 ELV
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2012
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,995cc

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

11 pass 4 fail
Pass 5 Mar 2026 176,295 miles
Pass 28 Jan 2025 171,940 miles

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

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

Offside Rear TAILIGHT INSECURE

UNDERTRAYS FITTED

Fail 15 Jan 2025 171,940 miles

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

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear TAILIGHT INSECURE

UNDERTRAYS FITTED

Pass 15 Jan 2024 161,420 miles
Fail 12 Jan 2024 161,419 miles

Bumper damaged and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted (6.1.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator light intensity significantly reduced (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Direction indicator light intensity significantly reduced (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up (5.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Fail 22 Dec 2023 161,399 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel fractured (5.2.2 (a)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up (5.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

rear bumper damage

Pass 29 Nov 2022 154,157 miles

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output NSF / OSF (4.1.4 (b))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view chip x 2 (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 9 Dec 2021 143,692 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2020 137,764 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2019 120,573 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2018 102,108 miles

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output ALL FOUR (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 10 Nov 2017 82,831 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 25 Nov 2016 51,384 miles

nearside front tyre becoming low on tread and bald on inner

Pass 19 Nov 2015 41,185 miles

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.0mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear nail in tyre

Fail 19 Nov 2015 41,185 miles

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

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

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2.0mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear nail in tyre

How Reliable is the BMW 3 Series?

Based on 12,840,406 MOT tests across 1,004,285 vehicles.

75.1%
Pass Rate
6,672
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,004,285
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 485,475
Brake pipe excessively corroded 323,327
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 253,205
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 185,099
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 182,360
Full BMW 3 Series reliability report

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N20 ELV is a 2012 BMW 3 Series in Black with a 1,995cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.3%.

Across all 2012 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.1% with a typical mileage of 77,866 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 3 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 485,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N20 ELV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 3 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 14 years old, this BMW 3 Series is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N20 ELV?

You can check the full history of N20 ELV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N20 ELV registered?

N20 ELV is a 2012 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 3 December 2012.

Is N20 ELV safe to buy?

The MOT history for N20 ELV shows 15 tests with a 73.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N20 ELV 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 N20 ELV. 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.