1996 BMW 3 Series 2.8L Petrol · P485 HGM
1996 BMW 3 Series (2.8L, petrol). First registered 06 Dec 1996. Recorded mileage 106,953 miles. MOT valid until 07 Dec 2026.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 07 Dec 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 106,953 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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P485 HGM Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 08/12/2025
- 106,953 miles recorded at latest MOT
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P485 HGM MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 BMW 3 Series (P485 HGM) between December 2021 and December 2025.
The record contains 5 passes and 0 failures.
No failures or advisories appear anywhere in the recorded tests, so the documented MOT record is relatively clean.
P485 HGM Mileage History
- 04/12/202187,795 mi
- 02/12/202294,237 mi+6,442 mi
- 02/12/202397,684 mi+3,447 mi
- 04/12/2024101,951 mi+4,267 mi
- 08/12/2025106,953 mi+5,002 mi
Average of roughly 4,776 miles per year across 5 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: Good
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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