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P252 PLM

1997 BMW 735

Silver Petrol 3498cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Aug 2026
Tests24 (13 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate54.2%

Mileage

179,000 mi
Last recorded179,000 miles
Recorded on5 Aug 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW 735117,541 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP252 PLM
MakeBMW
Model735
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,498cc

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

13 pass 11 fail
Pass 5 Aug 2025 179,000 miles

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Aug 2024

Fuel Pipe/s corroded Pipe to filter ()

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

underside of vehicle has been undersealed

Fail 20 Aug 2024

Offside Front Outer Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Jacking Point (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Jacking point (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Lower front rose bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded Pipe to filter ()

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

Fail 3 May 2024 176,463 miles

Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 12 May 2023 174,568 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Underbody and some components corroded but not excessively

Fail 14 Mar 2023 174,567 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 emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Outer, rearmost (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Outer, rearmost (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D-bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D-bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Feb 2018 172,764 miles

All tyres are wearing on inner edges and have age related cracks

Fail 20 Feb 2018 172,764 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering system excessively tight (2.2.D.1)

All tyres are wearing on inner edges and have age related cracks

Pass 11 Oct 2016

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear -upper pipe (limited vision) (3.6.B.2c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

rear tyres worn off on inner edges

Fail 10 Oct 2016

Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear -lower pipe (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear -upper pipe (limited vision) (3.6.B.2c)

rear tyres worn off on inner edges

Pass 24 Oct 2015 165,543 miles

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

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

Fail 9 Oct 2015 165,344 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rear wish bone tie link ball joint boot cover (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play main drag bar ball joint (part of bar) (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play main drag bar ball joint (part of bar ) (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside exhaust lamber sensor mounting hole small leak

Offside Rear tyre worn on side wall

Pass 10 Oct 2014 161,987 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

prop shaft drive coupling very worn

Fail 1 Oct 2014 161,911 miles

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

prop shaft drive coupling very worn

Pass 3 Oct 2013 158,398 miles
Fail 28 Sep 2013 158,352 miles

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

Pass 21 Jul 2011 149,917 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2010 137,587 miles

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

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

Rear flexible brake hoses very cracked/ perished

performance exhaust fitted

Fail 5 Aug 2010 137,506 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)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

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

Performance exhaust fitted

Rear flexible brake hoses nearly through to inner webbing

Fail 27 Jul 2010 136,993 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Performance exhaust fitted

Rear flexible brake hoses nearly through to inner webbing

Pass 21 Aug 2009 131,202 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2009 131,202 miles

Nearside Inner Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 22 Apr 2008 130,607 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2006 129,297 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 735?

Based on 51,279 MOT tests across 5,701 vehicles.

73.1%
Pass Rate
4,383
Miles/Year
41
Year Lifespan
5,701
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,292
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 1,707
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,582
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,324
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,237
Full BMW 735 reliability report

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P252 PLM is a 1997 BMW 735 in Silver with a 3,498cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.2%.

Across all 1997 BMW 735 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.2% with a typical mileage of 117,541 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 735 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 2,292 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P252 PLM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 735 typically stays on UK roads for around 41 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 735 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P252 PLM?

You can check the full history of P252 PLM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P252 PLM registered?

P252 PLM is a 1997 BMW 735, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P252 PLM safe to buy?

The MOT history for P252 PLM shows 24 tests with a 54.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P252 PLM 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 P252 PLM. 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.