2016 BMW 3 Series 2.0L Diesel · RV66 TXD

The 2016 BMW 3 Series presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a fully clean MOT pass on 21 May 2026 at 87,436 miles with zero defects recorded. This is a strong indicator that the most recent keeper addressed the tyre wear issues that plagued the 2024 test. The vehicle has not failed an MOT within the provided record, and the trajectory from advisory-laden entries to a spotless pass suggests attentive, if occasionally delayed, upkeep. The mileage accumulation is consistent and unremarkable for a vehicle of this age. Between the May 2022 test at 56,509 miles and the May 2023 test at 63,798 miles, the car covered 7,289 miles. The following year, from May 2023 to May 2024, it added 7,921 miles, and from May 2024 to May 2025, it added 8,765 miles. The final jump to the May 2026 test at 87,436 miles represents 6,952 miles over roughly twelve months. This pattern shows a steady, typical annual mileage of around 8,000 to 9,000 miles with no alarming gaps or sudden spikes that would suggest long-term standing or severe neglect. The 2024 test at 71,719 miles is the critical data point for a prospective buyer. The tester flagged all four tyres, with the nearside rear specifically noted as worn to the point of exposing cord or ply on the inner shoulder. Uneven inner shoulder wear on a BMW 3 Series is a classic symptom of worn suspension bushes, specifically the rear trailing arm or camber arms, or misadjusted rear wheel alignment. The fact that the 2025 and 2026 tests show no tyre advisories suggests the tyres were replaced, but a physical inspection must confirm whether the underlying suspension components were also renewed. A buyer should jack the rear axle and check for play in the rear suspension bushes and ball joints, paying close attention to the inner edges of the current tyre tread for any recurrence of the uneven wear pattern. Beyond the suspension, the 2025 advisory regarding a damaged offside upper windscreen section is minor but worth verifying for any crack propagation that may now impair the driver's view. Given the clean 2026 result, the primary mechanical risk lies not in the powertrain or braking system, which have remained defect-free, but in the condition of the rear suspension geometry. A pre-purchase inspection should include a four-wheel alignment check and a thorough underbody examination for corrosion, particularly around the rear subframe mounting points and sills, which are common failure points on this generation of BMW.