CarVerify

Free Car Check

7171 PJ

2003 BMW 3 Series

Black Diesel 2926cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Mar 2027
Tests34 (20 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate58.8%

Mileage

218,987 mi
Last recorded218,987 miles
Recorded on31 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 BMW 3 Series87,452 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

Registration7171 PJ
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,926cc

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

20 pass 14 fail
Pass 31 Mar 2026 218,987 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

underbody covered in underseal

Pass 1 Apr 2025 217,397 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

underbody has surface corrosion

Fail 1 Apr 2025 217,397 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

underbody has surface corrosion

Pass 19 Mar 2024 216,639 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

underbody showing signs of corrosion and on suspension and subframe

Pass 3 Nov 2022 213,040 miles

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

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

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

underbody corroded

Pass 12 Oct 2021 208,794 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

all indicators going white

exhaust heat shield loose

oil leak

under body corrosion

Fail 7 Oct 2021 208,791 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

all indicators going white

exhaust heat shield loose

oil leak

under body corrosion

Pass 5 Oct 2020 199,315 miles

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

slight underbody corrosion

Fail 5 Oct 2020 199,315 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

slight underbody corrosion

Pass 3 Apr 2019 188,874 miles

corrosion on front wings

slight underbody corrosion

Fail 2 Apr 2019 188,873 miles

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

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

corrosion on front wings

slight underbody corrosion

Pass 9 Mar 2018 178,556 miles

rear exhaust heat shield loose.

slight movement in near and off side rear suspension.

Fail 26 Feb 2018 178,553 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords inner side wall (4.1.D.1a)

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

rear exhaust heat shield loose.

slight movement in near and off side rear suspension.

Pass 24 Feb 2017 168,992 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

windscreen washers weak

Fail 17 Feb 2017 168,972 miles

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

windscreen washers weak

Fail 15 Dec 2016 168,889 miles

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion wheel arch (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Front Inner Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Inner Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement bottom arm rear bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement bottom arm rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play both sides (2.6.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

windscreen washers weak

Pass 25 Nov 2015 163,502 miles

slight corrosion to front wings

Pass 17 Dec 2014 155,298 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2014 155,298 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Front tyres worn on edges

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside front tyre has damage to sidewall. no chords exposed.

Pass 16 Dec 2013 141,765 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 4 Dec 2013 141,759 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Dec 2012 133,811 miles

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

o/s/f wheel arch liner insecure

Fail 30 Nov 2012 133,811 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

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

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

o/s/f wheel arch liner insecure

Pass 30 Nov 2011 120,135 miles
Fail 30 Nov 2011 120,135 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

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

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

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

o/s/r tyre slight buldge

Pass 24 Nov 2010 110,048 miles
Fail 23 Nov 2010 109,977 miles

Nearside Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Fail 24 Nov 2009 97,438 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

slight corrosion o/s/r brake pipe

Pass 24 Nov 2009 97,438 miles

slight corrosion o/s/r brake pipe

Pass 13 Nov 2008 77,547 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2008 77,547 miles

Offside Front Lower Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 9 Nov 2007 57,735 miles

play in front suspension bushes and ball joints/ corrosion on brake discs/ wear on front tyres/

Pass 21 May 2007 55,057 miles
Pass 17 May 2006 44,370 miles

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

7171 PJ is a 2003 BMW 3 Series in Black with a 2,926cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.8%.

Across all 2003 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.5% with a typical mileage of 87,452 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 7171 PJ, 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 23 years old, this BMW 3 Series is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 7171 PJ?

You can check the full history of 7171 PJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 7171 PJ registered?

7171 PJ is a 2003 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 21 May 2003.

Is 7171 PJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for 7171 PJ shows 34 tests with a 58.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 7171 PJ 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 7171 PJ. 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.