1996 BMW 3 Series 1.8L Petrol · P292 HYB
1996 BMW 3 Series (1.8L, petrol). First registered 01 Aug 1996. Recorded mileage 210,918 miles. MOT expired on 12 Jun 2008. Currently declared SORN.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 12 Jun 2008
- Road Tax
- SORN
- Recorded Mileage
- 210,918 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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.
P292 HYB Key Findings
- 3 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 13/06/2007
- 210,918 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (3 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P292 HYB MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
3 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 BMW 3 Series (P292 HYB) between August 2005 and June 2007.
The record contains 2 passes and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 13 June 2007 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (3 issues), Suspension (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
Recorded failure items include: “Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)”; “Offside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)”; “Nearside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)”.
P292 HYB Mileage History
- 31/08/2005197,509 mi
- 07/06/2007210,874 mi+13,365 mi
- 13/06/2007210,918 mi+44 mi
Average of roughly 7,523 miles per year across 3 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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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: Below Average
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.
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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 1996 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.
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