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N485 FSL

1996 BMW M3

Yellow Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Sep 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

124,443 mi
Last recorded124,443 miles
Recorded on18 Sep 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW M3100,666 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

RegistrationN485 FSL
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1996
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,201cc

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 10 fail
Pass 18 Sep 2025 124,443 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2025 124,442 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 19 Aug 2024 124,366 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2023 124,288 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all rear brake pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 4 Sep 2023 124,285 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all rear brake pipes (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 15 Aug 2022 124,231 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2021 124,144 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 31 Aug 2021 124,142 miles

Emissions not tested Vehicle overheated, no emissions limits met prior to abandoning emissions test (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 25 Aug 2020 123,964 miles

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 14 Aug 2020 123,961 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 15 Jul 2019 123,792 miles

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

Pass 13 Jul 2018 123,761 miles

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

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

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

Fail 13 Jul 2018 123,758 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

Pass 2 Mar 2017 122,243 miles

Oil leak ()

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

Fail 1 Mar 2017 122,240 miles

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Oil leak ()

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

Pass 23 Feb 2016 121,932 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 10 Feb 2016 121,912 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) DANGEROUS

Stop lamp not working ALL (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 19 Jan 2015 116,784 miles

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

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

both front tyres worn on the outer edges

centre exhaust silencer rubber mount broken

n/s parking brake effort reduced

Fail 19 Jan 2015 116,784 miles

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

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

both front tyres worn on the outer edges

centre exhaust silencer rubber mount broken

n/s parking brake effort reduced

Pass 21 May 2013 112,789 miles

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Oil leak

nearside handbrake weaker than offside

Pass 22 May 2012 105,636 miles

O/s/r tyre close to tread wear indicators

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear diff damp

Fail 16 May 2012 105,577 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

O/s/r tyre close to tread wear indicators

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear diff damp

Pass 17 May 2011 95,642 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

brake pads low warning lamp on

offside washer jet weak

Pass 4 May 2010 89,793 miles

"Check Control" lamp on

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

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

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

brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 18 Nov 2008 89,587 miles

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

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

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

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

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

Pass 19 Sep 2007 88,927 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2007 88,893 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

both front to rear brake pipes over fuel tank corroding

slight play in o/s/ track rod inner joint

Pass 5 Oct 2006 79,808 miles

"check control" warning lamp coming on

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

slight play in offside track rod

How Reliable is the BMW M3?

Based on 440,678 MOT tests across 34,038 vehicles.

80.8%
Pass Rate
3,682
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
34,038
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14,421
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,386
coil spring incomplete 5,157
coil spring fractured 4,494
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,944
Full BMW M3 reliability report

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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.

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N485 FSL is a 1996 BMW M3 in Yellow with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1996 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 100,666 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 M3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 14,421 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N485 FSL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW M3 typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 30 years old, this BMW M3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N485 FSL?

You can check the full history of N485 FSL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N485 FSL registered?

N485 FSL is a 1996 BMW M3, first registered on 5 July 1996.

Is N485 FSL safe to buy?

The MOT history for N485 FSL shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N485 FSL 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 N485 FSL. 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.