CarVerify

Free Car Check

R285 NKX

1997 BMW R850

Blue Petrol 850cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Mar 2027
Tests22 (19 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate86.4%

Mileage

41,653 mi
Last recorded41,653 miles
Recorded on1 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW R85036,749 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR285 NKX
MakeBMW
ModelR850
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine850cc

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 3 fail
Pass 1 Apr 2026 41,653 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2025 41,639 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2024 41,529 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2023 40,078 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2023 39,822 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2021 39,794 miles

Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))

Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin, bush or joint worn but not resulting in excessive movement paralever bearing (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 15 Sep 2020 39,524 miles

Rear Slight play in paralever

Pass 17 Apr 2019 38,978 miles

Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))

Headlamp light intensity reduced reflector is misted (4.1.4 (a))

rear arm has slight side play in paralever suspension arm

Pass 16 Apr 2018 38,441 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2017 38,323 miles

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d)

play in rear diff bearing

Fail 19 Apr 2017 38,323 miles

Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d)

Headlamp aim too low (1.6)

Offside Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times per minute (1.5.1c)

play in rear diff bearing

Pass 26 Apr 2016 38,131 miles

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play slight free play (2.4.A.2c)

Pass 25 Apr 2015 37,772 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2014 37,503 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2013 37,237 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2013 37,226 miles

Nearside Front Front shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (2.3.3)

Pass 9 Aug 2011 36,248 miles

Front Wheel damaged but not significantly reducing the original strength (4.2.1a)

Rear Rear wheel bearings have slight free play (2.4.A.2c)

Pass 4 Aug 2010 34,754 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2009 33,718 miles

Rear Registration plate background overprinted or shadowed with text (6.3.1e)

Pass 1 Aug 2009 33,718 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2008 32,909 miles

Front Wheel damaged but not significantly reducing the original strength (4.2.1a)

Pass 12 May 2008 32,325 miles

How Reliable is the BMW R850?

Based on 19,569 MOT tests across 1,481 vehicles.

88.0%
Pass Rate
1,046
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
1,481
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 187
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 133
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 118
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 106
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 69
Full BMW R850 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

R285 NKX is a 1997 BMW R850 in Blue with a 850cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.4%.

Across all 1997 BMW R850 models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.8% with a typical mileage of 36,749 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW R850 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, accounting for 187 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R285 NKX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW R850 typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this BMW R850 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R285 NKX?

You can check the full history of R285 NKX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R285 NKX registered?

R285 NKX is a 1997 BMW R850, first registered on 16 October 1997.

Is R285 NKX safe to buy?

The MOT history for R285 NKX shows 22 tests with a 86.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R285 NKX 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 R285 NKX. 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.