2017 BMW 320 2.0L Diesel · RF17 EXA

A nine-year-old BMW 320 has accumulated a tidy MOT history with seven tests recorded between 2020 and early 2026, of which six resulted in passes and one resulted in a failure. The most recent three annual examinations in February 2024, February 2025, and March 2026 were all passed with no advisories or defects recorded, indicating that the tester found nothing of concern at the time of inspection. The only failure on file dates from August 2021, when the nearside rear tyre was deemed dangerous due to exposed ply or cords, though the car returned to the test station the next day and passed. Aside from that single tyre-related failure, the test outcome trend is stable, with no repeat failures and no escalating defect pattern recorded over the following four examinations. Mileage on file stands at 106,299 miles across approximately nine years of registration, which equates to a typical annual accumulation of around 11,800 miles. This figure is broadly in line with average usage for a vehicle of this age and suggests steady, regular driving rather than prolonged periods off the road. There are no unusually long gaps between tests that would imply long-term lay-up, and no evidence of rapid mileage escalation between consecutive tests that might indicate inconsistent odometer readings. From a mechanical standpoint, this kind of consistent usage tends to be kinder to items such as seals, gaskets, suspension bushes, and brake components than very low annual mileage combined with short journeys, as the components are regularly exercised and brought up to operating temperature. The advisories recorded in 2023 are the most specific items worth investigating on a pre-purchase inspection. Light oil misting was noted on both rear shock absorbers, which is a common finding on higher-mileage vehicles and typically indicates the early stages of seal degradation rather than an immediate replacement requirement. Any test drive should include firm presses over speed humps and undulating B-road surfaces, with particular attention to a faint greasy film on the rear dampers and any loss of damping control, evidenced by continued oscillation after a single large bounce or a feeling of the rear end running out of travel over undulations. The 2023 test also recorded an oil leak from the rear differential, classed as not excessive; this should be checked visually from underneath the vehicle for fresh seepage around the differential housing, the output flange seals, and the mounting area, and any worsening whirring or rumbling from the rear axle during cornering or deceleration would warrant further investigation. The 2022 test noted that full underbody shields were fitted, which can sometimes conceal corrosion on chassis and suspension components, so a thorough inspection should involve removal or visual confirmation through access panels that the subframe, rear trailing arms, brake pipes, and mounting points are free from significant corrosion. The nearside rear tyre advisory for edge wear down to 4 mm in 2022 is worth noting in terms of suspension geometry, so on a test drive, any pulling to one side under braking or uneven rear tyre wear across the tread width when checking the existing tyres would suggest the need for a four-wheel alignment check. The dangerous tyre failure in 2021 has not recurred on any subsequent test, but the prospective buyer should confirm that all four tyres are of matching brand, size, and tread depth, and free from sidewall bulges or exposed cords. Finally, with mileage approaching 107,000, a service history review covering timing chain condition, recent brake fluid and coolant changes, and any renewal of suspension components would be prudent, though the MOT record itself does not provide visibility of such maintenance.