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N285 BRW

1996 BMW 525

Green Diesel 2498cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Mar 2026
Tests11 (7 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

Typical for 1996 BMW 525137,025 mi
4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationN285 BRW
MakeBMW
Model525
Year1996
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,498cc

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

7 pass 4 fail
Pass 1 Apr 2025
Pass 15 Mar 2024 155,379 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security VARIOUS CORSION ON CROSS MEMBERS (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Suspension rod pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement ALL SUSPENSION BUSHES PERISHED (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing ALL TYRES SIGNS OF AGE (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 9 Dec 2011 153,286 miles

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

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

Nearside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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)

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 21 May 2010 147,691 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 9 Jun 2009 136,276 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 9 Jun 2009 136,276 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 11 Jun 2008 124,815 miles

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

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

Fail 6 Jun 2008 124,691 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

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

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

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

Pass 5 Jun 2007 109,998 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2007 109,998 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 10 Jun 2006 101,744 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 525?

Based on 724,963 MOT tests across 56,965 vehicles.

74.4%
Pass Rate
7,259
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
56,965
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33,171
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,448
Brake pipe excessively corroded 16,227
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10,065
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 9,710
Full BMW 525 reliability report

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N285 BRW is a 1996 BMW 525 in Green with a 2,498cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

Across all 1996 BMW 525 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.4% with a typical mileage of 137,025 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 525 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 33,171 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N285 BRW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 525 typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 30 years old, this BMW 525 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N285 BRW?

You can check the full history of N285 BRW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N285 BRW registered?

N285 BRW is a 1996 BMW 525, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is N285 BRW safe to buy?

The MOT history for N285 BRW shows 11 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N285 BRW 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 N285 BRW. 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.