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P21 PLR

1997 BMW 316

Blue Petrol 1596cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires28 Mar 2013
Tests12 (7 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

146,162 mi
Last recorded146,162 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW 316102,710 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP21 PLR
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

7 pass 5 fail
Fail 18 Mar 2013 146,162 miles

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

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Nearside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt flexible stalk damaged but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

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

airbag warning light on

Pass 19 Mar 2012 140,997 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

exhaust bracket to gearbox missing.

handbrake lever has slight travel.

Pass 8 Mar 2011 131,857 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 29 Mar 2010 120,457 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2010 120,223 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

near side mirror slightly damaged

near side rear indicator lens cracked.

Pass 23 Mar 2009 109,283 miles

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

airbag warning light on

Fail 23 Mar 2009 109,283 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

airbag warning light on

Pass 26 Mar 2008 102,332 miles

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

Fail 26 Mar 2008 102,328 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

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

Pass 12 Mar 2007 96,495 miles

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

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

Fail 12 Mar 2007 96,488 miles

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

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

o/s & n/s front to rear brake pipes corroded at rear

Pass 13 Mar 2006 88,429 miles

Offside rear brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.5b)

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

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P21 PLR is a 1997 BMW 316 in Blue with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

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 P21 PLR, 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 P21 PLR?

You can check the full history of P21 PLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P21 PLR registered?

P21 PLR is a 1997 BMW 316, first registered on 16 May 1997.

Is P21 PLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for P21 PLR shows 12 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P21 PLR 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 P21 PLR. 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.