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P290 MLC

1996 BMW 735

Silver Petrol 3498cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Sep 2022
Tests24 (17 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate70.8%

Mileage

122,428 mi
Last recorded122,428 miles
Recorded on1 Dec 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 735119,184 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP290 MLC
MakeBMW
Model735
Year1996
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

17 pass 7 fail
Fail 1 Dec 2025 122,428 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Nearside Front Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Offside 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 linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 1 Oct 2021 120,285 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Sep 2020 117,208 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2019 115,197 miles

Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 23 Sep 2019

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 25 Oct 2018 140,000 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2017 112,701 miles
Fail 26 Sep 2017 112,700 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)

Nearside Ball joint has excessive play inner steering rod (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush hub control (2.4.G.2)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 17 Sep 2016
Fail 14 Sep 2016

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

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)

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

Pass 1 Oct 2015
Fail 30 Sep 2015

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 29 Sep 2014 108,317 miles

Nearside Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 13 Sep 2013 105,952 miles

Both Rear Shocks Weak

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

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 12 Sep 2013 105,952 miles

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

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Both Rear Shocks Weak

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

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Sep 2012

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

O/S front tyre outer side wall deteriorating!

Pass 31 Aug 2011 99,751 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2010 96,680 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2009 93,460 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2008 89,205 miles

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

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

Pass 4 Aug 2007 87,528 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

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

Pass 18 Aug 2006 85,330 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 11 Aug 2005 79,801 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2005 79,801 miles

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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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P290 MLC is a 1996 BMW 735 in Silver with a 3,498cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.8%.

Across all 1996 BMW 735 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.0% with a typical mileage of 119,184 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 P290 MLC, 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 30 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 P290 MLC?

You can check the full history of P290 MLC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P290 MLC registered?

P290 MLC is a 1996 BMW 735, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P290 MLC safe to buy?

The MOT history for P290 MLC shows 24 tests with a 70.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P290 MLC 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 P290 MLC. 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.