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A4 XJA

1996 BMW 3 Series

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jun 2026
Tests22 (14 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

110,271 mi
Last recorded110,271 miles
Recorded on9 Jun 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 3 Series112,776 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA4 XJA
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1996
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

14 pass 8 fail
Pass 9 Jun 2025 110,271 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material covered in substances (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Jun 2024 110,020 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil and leg corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear wheel arches and both sills corroded badly

Fail 7 Jun 2024 110,012 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil and leg corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear wheel arches and both sills corroded badly

Pass 10 May 2023 108,168 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 25 May 2022 104,684 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 19 May 2022 104,667 miles

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 18 May 2021 101,754 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 10 May 2021 101,723 miles

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 22 May 2020 99,608 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

oil leak from engine

Fail 20 May 2020 99,600 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

oil leak from engine

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 May 2019 96,409 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 25 Apr 2018 97,558 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 12 Apr 2018 92,548 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 12 Apr 2017 89,741 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 14 Apr 2016 86,430 miles
Fail 6 Apr 2016 86,233 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Inner Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 6 Jun 2009 76,775 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 3 Jun 2008 68,392 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 3 Jun 2008 68,392 miles

Nearside Inner Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Inner Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Outer Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Inner Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Inner Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Inner Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Inner Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 19 Feb 2007 66,876 miles
Pass 3 Jan 2006 63,423 miles
Fail 30 Dec 2005 63,423 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

How Reliable is the BMW 3 Series?

Based on 12,840,406 MOT tests across 1,004,285 vehicles.

75.1%
Pass Rate
6,672
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,004,285
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 485,475
Brake pipe excessively corroded 323,327
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 253,205
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 185,099
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 182,360
Full BMW 3 Series reliability report

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A4 XJA is a 1996 BMW 3 Series in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

Across all 1996 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.6% with a typical mileage of 112,776 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 3 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 485,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A4 XJA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 3 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 30 years old, this BMW 3 Series is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A4 XJA?

You can check the full history of A4 XJA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A4 XJA registered?

A4 XJA is a 1996 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is A4 XJA safe to buy?

The MOT history for A4 XJA shows 22 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A4 XJA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A4 XJA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.