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WJ53 VLB

2003 BMW 316

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Oct 2026
Tests25 (19 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76%

Mileage

123,649 mi
Last recorded123,649 miles
Recorded on22 Oct 2025
Typical for 2003 BMW 31673,348 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationWJ53 VLB
MakeBMW
Model316
Year2003
ColourBlue
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 6 fail
Pass 22 Oct 2025 123,649 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Jan 2025 122,447 miles

Rear rear brake pads wearing thin

Pass 16 Jan 2024 120,432 miles
Fail 9 Jan 2024 120,400 miles

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

Pass 17 Jan 2023 116,438 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 16 Jan 2023 116,438 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 13 Dec 2021 101,014 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Under trays fitted obscuring some testable items

Pass 10 Jul 2020 98,723 miles

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Jul 2020 98,723 miles

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Dec 2018 97,089 miles
Pass 22 Nov 2017 94,304 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2016 90,451 miles

Both front seat belts are slow to retract

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 3mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 16 Dec 2015 87,776 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2015 87,773 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 10 Nov 2014 82,112 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 18 Sep 2013 72,513 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2013 72,513 miles

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

Pass 18 Sep 2012 62,209 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2011 53,855 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2010 42,579 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 7 Sep 2009 39,094 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 9 Sep 2008 33,285 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2008 33,261 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 10 Sep 2007 25,798 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2006 20,679 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 316?

Based on 1,210,990 MOT tests across 108,989 vehicles.

69.2%
Pass Rate
5,781
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
108,989
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 71,150
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 70,761
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 45,241
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 39,617
parking brake recording little or no effort 33,703
Full BMW 316 reliability report

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WJ53 VLB is a 2003 BMW 316 in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76%.

Across all 2003 BMW 316 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.3% with a typical mileage of 73,348 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 316 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 71,150 recorded failures. If you're considering buying WJ53 VLB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 316 typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 23 years old, this BMW 316 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of WJ53 VLB?

You can check the full history of WJ53 VLB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was WJ53 VLB registered?

WJ53 VLB is a 2003 BMW 316, first registered on 30 September 2003.

Is WJ53 VLB safe to buy?

The MOT history for WJ53 VLB shows 25 tests with a 76% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does WJ53 VLB 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 WJ53 VLB. 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.