CarVerify

Free Car Check

R291 FAN

1997 BMW 735

Green Petrol 3498cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Feb 2027
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

93,208 mi
Last recorded93,208 miles
Recorded on19 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 735117,541 mi

Below or 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationR291 FAN
MakeBMW
Model735
Year1997
ColourGreen
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 6 fail
Pass 19 Feb 2026 93,208 miles
Fail 11 Feb 2026 93,100 miles

Nearside Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm DROP ARM WORN (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Feb 2025 90,278 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2023 87,059 miles
Fail 27 Nov 2023 87,051 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))

Pass 30 Nov 2022 85,323 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive adjacent engine / gearbox area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 30 Nov 2022 85,323 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 default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive adjacent engine / gearbox area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 21 Nov 2022 85,305 miles

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 5 Nov 2021 82,445 miles

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 28 Oct 2020 80,216 miles

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

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

Fail 21 Oct 2020 80,214 miles

Nearside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 23 Oct 2019 78,227 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 27 Mar 2012 77,927 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

o/s/f tyre wearing on outer edge

Fail 26 Mar 2012 77,927 miles

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

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

o/s/f tyre wearing on outer edge

Pass 30 Mar 2011 75,453 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

osf tyre worn on edge

Pass 13 Mar 2010 71,892 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 14 Mar 2009 68,942 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2008 67,164 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 17 Oct 2006 64,547 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

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

R291 FAN is a 1997 BMW 735 in Green with a 3,498cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

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 R291 FAN, 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 R291 FAN?

You can check the full history of R291 FAN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R291 FAN registered?

R291 FAN is a 1997 BMW 735, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R291 FAN safe to buy?

The MOT history for R291 FAN shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R291 FAN 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 R291 FAN. 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.