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P78 RNS

1996 BMW 518

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Aug 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

103,520 mi
Last recorded103,520 miles
Recorded on6 Aug 2026
Typical for 1996 BMW 518126,076 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

RegistrationP78 RNS
MakeBMW
Model518
Year1996
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 6 Aug 2026 103,520 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2026 103,517 miles

Central Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Central Rear Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.2.2 (e))

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective Both (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 17 Aug 2023 102,031 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Pass 4 Aug 2022 101,955 miles

Brake hose slightly damaged all 4 (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all round (1.1.11 (c))

Coolant leak

Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both front (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Window damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view stone chip (3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 6 Aug 2021 101,776 miles

Brake pipe slightly damaged all 4 (1.1.11 (c))

Front Suspension rod ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front front windscreen have stonechip damage

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 29 Jul 2020 101,501 miles

Coolant leak (strong advice)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule and offside front (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated and offside front (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect and offside front (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated and offside rear (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear metal brake pipe corroded

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement and nearside rear drop link (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

both front +both rear brake discs scored/lipped

both front tyres side wall perished+cracking

front exhaust box heat shield insecure +rattling

front windscreen has a stonechip

metal fuel pipe badly corroded (strong advice) from front to rear

Pass 2 Aug 2019 101,270 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement and offside rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

coolent leak (strong advice)

front brake discs worn/lipped

front exhaust box heat shield insecure +rattling

front windscreen has a stonechip

offside rear tyre cracking

oil leaks

(strong advice) metal fuel pipe badly corroded from rear to front

(strong advice) nearside rear tyre side walls perished+deep cracks (dangerous)

Fail 2 Aug 2019 101,270 miles

Emissions not tested due to engine over heating (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement and offside rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

coolent leak (strong advice)

front brake discs worn/lipped

front exhaust box heat shield insecure +rattling

front windscreen has a stonechip

offside rear tyre cracking

oil leaks

(strong advice) metal fuel pipe badly corroded from rear to front

(strong advice) nearside rear tyre side walls perished+deep cracks (dangerous)

Pass 29 Jun 2018 100,683 miles

Nearside Front and off side front tyres cracking

Nearside Rear and offside rear anti roll bar link bush deteriorated (stong advice)

Offside Rear and nearside rear tyres cracking + osr tyre worn inside edge

front number plate deteriorate

Fail 21 Jun 2018 100,678 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp missing (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and off side front (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front and off side front tyres cracking

Nearside Rear and offside rear anti roll bar link bush deteriorated (stong advice)

Offside Rear and nearside rear tyres cracking + osr tyre worn inside edge

front number plate deteriorate

Pass 30 Jun 2017 100,354 miles

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

Coolant leak

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (rear facing) (2.4.G.2)

nearside rear tyre cracking

offside front tyre outer side wall slight cut

offside rear fuel pipe corroded

oil leaks

Pass 8 Jul 2016 99,645 miles

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

Nearside Rear tyre cracks & split inner sidewall

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

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

Offside Front tyre outer sidewall small cut

coolant leak

Fail 7 Jul 2016 99,642 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear tyre cracks & split inner sidewall

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

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

Offside Front tyre outer sidewall small cut

coolant leak

Pass 7 Jul 2015 99,040 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

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

front wiper blades smearing

Pass 12 Jul 2014 98,600 miles

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

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

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

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 4 Jul 2014 98,595 miles

Rear Fuel hose leaking (7.2.3)

Rear Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

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

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 10 May 2013 98,342 miles

Coolant leak

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

Fail 9 May 2013 98,339 miles

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

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

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

Coolant leak

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

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

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 10 May 2012 97,574 miles

Coolant leak

Oil leak

offside rear (inner & outer edge worn low) Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Pass 28 Apr 2011 96,942 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Pass 16 Apr 2010 95,913 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2009 95,011 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2008 93,990 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2008 93,990 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 13 Apr 2007 92,669 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2007 92,669 miles

Nearside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Fuel pipe starting to get corroided.

Intrmediat steering arm slightly play.

Pass 13 Apr 2006 91,805 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 518?

Based on 62,660 MOT tests across 8,904 vehicles.

74.0%
Pass Rate
6,367
Miles/Year
41
Year Lifespan
8,904
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,373
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,837
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,465
position lamp(s) not working 1,178
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,104
Full BMW 518 reliability report

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P78 RNS is a 1996 BMW 518 in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

Across all 1996 BMW 518 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.3% with a typical mileage of 126,076 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 518 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 3,373 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P78 RNS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 518 typically stays on UK roads for around 41 years. At 30 years old, this BMW 518 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P78 RNS?

You can check the full history of P78 RNS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P78 RNS registered?

P78 RNS is a 1996 BMW 518, first registered on 1 August 1996.

Is P78 RNS safe to buy?

The MOT history for P78 RNS shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P78 RNS 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 P78 RNS. 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.