BMW M31996 · 3.2L PETROL

The most recent MOT certificate dates back to November 2009, recording 134,067 miles. This is a significant concern because there is a gap of nearly seventeen years without a test. You must treat this vehicle as having been in long-term storage rather than in regular use. Historically, the car displayed a worsening trend regarding corrosion and suspension wear leading up to 2009. In January 2008, it failed its MOT due to a serious fluid leak in the nearside front shock absorber and excessive play in the anti-roll bar linkage. While these mechanical issues were addressed for a retest, brake pipe corrosion was a recurring problem across multiple tests, appearing on the front axle in 2008 and moving to the rear by 2009. The mileage figure of 134,067 miles is likely accurate but very old, as the odometer has not moved since 2009. The low average annual mileage is misleading; the car was actually driven roughly 14,000 miles a year between 2005 and 2006 before being taken off the road. This long period of inactivity poses specific risks, including dried-out seals, perished rubber components, and potential corrosion from lack of use. You should prioritize a thorough inspection of the brake lines, as corrosion was a noted issue in the past and will have likely worsened over the last seventeen years.