CarVerify

Free Car Check

P205 EPC

1997 BMW 316

Blue Petrol 1596cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Feb 2012
Tests13 (6 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate46.2%

Mileage

155,383 mi
Last recorded155,383 miles
Recorded on26 Mar 2012
Typical for 1997 BMW 316102,710 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

RegistrationP205 EPC
MakeBMW
Model316
Year1997
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

6 pass 7 fail
Fail 26 Mar 2012 155,383 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

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

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

O/S/r handbrake cable corroded & worn

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

Oil leak

Pass 3 Feb 2011 150,592 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Oil leak on front of engine.

Windscreen washer liquid very low, top up.

Fail 31 Jan 2011 150,592 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Offside Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak on front of engine.

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Windscreen washer liquid very low, top up.

Pass 5 Aug 2009 137,035 miles

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 8 Jul 2009 136,993 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Steering column movement between the shaft and steering wheel (2.1.2b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 19 May 2009 136,990 miles

Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely by positive means (7.2.4b)

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Steering column top bearing excessively worn (2.1.2c)

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

Nearside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 9 May 2008 13,339 miles

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

Fail 8 May 2008 13,339 miles

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

Pass 22 May 2007 128,022 miles

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

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

Fail 15 May 2007 128,007 miles

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

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

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

Pass 23 May 2006 121,826 miles
Fail 19 May 2006 121,817 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 25 May 2005 114,194 miles

rear brake pipes heavily rusted

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

P205 EPC is a 1997 BMW 316 in Blue with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 46.2%.

Across all 1997 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.3% with a typical mileage of 102,710 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 316 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 71,150 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P205 EPC, 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 29 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 P205 EPC?

You can check the full history of P205 EPC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P205 EPC registered?

P205 EPC is a 1997 BMW 316, first registered on 12 June 1997.

Is P205 EPC safe to buy?

The MOT history for P205 EPC shows 13 tests with a 46.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P205 EPC 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 P205 EPC. 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.