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R42 EAL

1997 BMW C1

Blue Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Oct 2026
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

141,578 mi
Last recorded141,578 miles
Recorded on25 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW C197,506 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR42 EAL
MakeBMW
ModelC1
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,398cc

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 5 fail
Pass 25 Sep 2025 141,578 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2024 140,841 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2023 139,891 miles
Pass 7 Oct 2022 138,142 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2022 138,142 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))

Pass 12 Oct 2021 135,779 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2021 135,779 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Pass 16 Mar 2020 133,945 miles

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

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

metal fuel lines corroded

Pass 8 Mar 2019 130,324 miles

front to rear metal fuel pipe corroding

rear trailing arm bushes starting to perish

very slight play n/s/r +o/s/r rose bushes

Pass 9 Mar 2018 123,945 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2017 119,327 miles

Nearside Front Steering pivot point has slight play rack end (2.2.B.1g)

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

Pass 25 Sep 2015 118,862 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded both main run (3.6.B.2c)

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

fuel pipe corroded

fuel tank breather pipe excessively corroded

offside rear upper suspension arm slight play

Fail 25 Sep 2015 118,862 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded both main run (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

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

fuel pipe corroded

fuel tank breather pipe excessively corroded

offside rear upper suspension arm slight play

Pass 29 Jul 2014 118,835 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 17 Jul 2013 118,808 miles

n/s/f tyre misshaped.

Pass 31 Jul 2012 118,791 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2011 118,775 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2010 118,770 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2010 118,770 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 23 Jul 2009 118,743 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2009 118,740 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Jul 2008 118,572 miles

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

Pass 27 Jul 2007 118,342 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2006 118,126 miles

How Reliable is the BMW C1?

Based on 12,168 MOT tests across 1,391 vehicles.

81.0%
Pass Rate
1,054
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
1,391
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 519
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 275
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 262
Brake disc(s) excessively worn 134
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 132
Full BMW C1 reliability report

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R42 EAL is a 1997 BMW C1 in Blue with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 1997 BMW C1 models, the average MOT pass rate is 77.6% with a typical mileage of 97,506 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW C1 fails its MOT is brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, accounting for 519 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R42 EAL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW C1 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this BMW C1 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R42 EAL?

You can check the full history of R42 EAL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R42 EAL registered?

R42 EAL is a 1997 BMW C1, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R42 EAL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R42 EAL shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R42 EAL 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 R42 EAL. 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.