CarVerify

Free Car Check

R56 ARD

1997 BMW 535

Silver Petrol 3498cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Aug 2023
Tests14 (10 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

161,750 mi
Last recorded161,750 miles
Recorded on26 Aug 2022
Typical for 1997 BMW 535117,977 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

RegistrationR56 ARD
MakeBMW
Model535
Year1997
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

10 pass 4 fail
Pass 26 Aug 2022 161,750 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Slight play in inner steering arm ball joints

Pass 16 Jul 2019 161,684 miles

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Fail 8 Apr 2019 161,656 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords multiple, 265/35/18 (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Offside Rear Lower Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords multiple, 265/35/18 (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

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

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing cracking & perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 10 Apr 2018 161,595 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2018 161,592 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 20 Feb 2012 152,004 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2011 150,713 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2010 148,632 miles
Pass 29 Apr 2009 145,699 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2008 141,858 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2008 141,858 miles

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

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Exhaust has a part missing (7.1.1a) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 1 May 2007 136,016 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2006 129,795 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2006 129,737 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image too far to the right (1.6.B4)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is above 850mm from the ground (1.6.B3)

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

How Reliable is the BMW 535?

Based on 216,162 MOT tests across 18,035 vehicles.

78.7%
Pass Rate
7,094
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
18,035
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,346
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,237
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 2,669
Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,608
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 2,438
Full BMW 535 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

R56 ARD is a 1997 BMW 535 in Silver with a 3,498cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1997 BMW 535 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.4% with a typical mileage of 117,977 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 535 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 6,346 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R56 ARD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 535 typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 535 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R56 ARD?

You can check the full history of R56 ARD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R56 ARD registered?

R56 ARD is a 1997 BMW 535, first registered on 4 August 1997.

Is R56 ARD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R56 ARD shows 14 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R56 ARD 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 R56 ARD. 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.