1994 BMW 3 Series 1.8L Petrol · M746 KOH
1994 BMW 3 Series (1.8L, petrol). First registered 01 Aug 1994. Recorded mileage 140,706 miles. MOT expired on 02 Oct 2013. Currently declared SORN. A manufacturer safety recall is currently outstanding.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1994 · Manchester
- Safety Recall
- Recall Notice
- MOT Status
- Expired on 02 Oct 2013
- Road Tax
- SORN
- Recorded Mileage
- 140,706 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Outstanding Safety Recall Notice
Action RequiredOfficial DVSA telemetry indicates this vehicle has an unaddressed manufacturer safety recall. Remedial repairs are legally required to be carried out 100% free of charge by an authorised main dealer.
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
M746 KOH Key Findings
- 10 MOT tests recorded
- Outstanding manufacturer safety recall notice
- Latest MOT passed on 03/10/2012
- 140,706 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
M746 KOH MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
10 MOT tests are recorded for this 1994 BMW 3 Series (M746 KOH) between August 2005 and October 2012.
The record contains 8 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 03 October 2012 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (5 issues), Tyres (2 issues), Suspension (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 6 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)”; “Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)”.
M746 KOH Mileage History
- 31/08/2005102,293 mi
- 29/08/2006104,607 mi+2,314 mi
- 29/08/2007106,579 mi+1,972 mi
- 20/06/2008107,278 mi+699 mi
- 15/09/2009117,601 mi+10,323 mi
- 17/09/2009117,601 mi
- 29/09/2010124,859 mi+7,258 mi
- 29/09/2010124,859 mi
- 07/09/2011131,084 mi+6,225 mi
- 03/10/2012140,706 mi+9,622 mi
Average of roughly 5,417 miles per year across 10 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
Estimate current market value
Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.
Known faults for BMW 3 Series (E36)
Our database tracks 5 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Poor
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Similar Vehicles
Similar Vehicles Checked Recently
Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (M746 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as M746KOH.
HARLEY DAVIDSON
1200
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER
FORD
MONDEO
JEEP
WRANGLER 2.5
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
MITSUBISHI
DELICA
BMW
3 SERIES
JAGUAR
XJ
HONDA
Unknown
TOYOTA
SUPRA
RENAULT
CLIO
HONDA
CBR900RR
BMW 3 SERIES Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1994 model year cars.
- Cooling System OverhaulSerious
Plastic water pump impellers shatter, expansion tanks split along mould seams, and composite thermostat housings warp with age. A complete cooling overhaul is essential every 60k–80k miles.
- Rear Shock Mount TearingSerious
The sheet metal towers supporting the rear shock mounts can fatigue and tear out under rough road impacts, leaving the damper loose inside the boot.
- VANOS Rattle & Seal FailureModerate
The variable valve timing unit (single VANOS on M50TU/M52, dual on M52TU) suffers from Buna-N O-ring hardening and bearing axial play, leading to loss of low-end torque and a noisy marble-in-a-tin-can rattle.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.