1996 BMW 3 Series 2.8L Petrol · N701 DHJ
1996 BMW 3 Series (2.8L, petrol). First registered 03 Jan 1996. Recorded mileage 221,547 miles. MOT expired on 27 Feb 2026.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Newcastle
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 27 Feb 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 221,547 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.8L
- 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.
N701 DHJ Key Findings
- 1 MOT test recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 28/02/2025
- 221,547 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.
N701 DHJ MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
1 MOT test are recorded for this 1996 BMW 3 Series (N701 DHJ) between February 2025 and February 2025.
The record contains 1 pass and 0 failures.
The record shows no MOT failures, although 0 advisory notices note items to monitor.
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: 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.
Similar Vehicles
Similar Vehicles Checked Recently
Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (N701 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as N701DHJ.
VOLKSWAGEN
T25
VOLKSWAGEN
POLO
PEUGEOT
106
ROVER
MINI
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER
PEUGEOT
205
PEUGEOT
BOXER
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
ISUZU
BIGHORN
BMW
R1100
SUZUKI
GS500
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER
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.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.