CarVerify

Free Car Check

786 SAM

2003 BMW 3 Series

Black Petrol 2171cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 May 2027
Tests23 (17 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate73.9%

Mileage

42,336 mi
Last recorded42,336 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
Typical for 2003 BMW 3 Series87,452 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

Registration786 SAM
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,171cc

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

17 pass 6 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 42,336 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 5 May 2026 42,336 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 9 May 2025 41,999 miles

Central Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Fail 6 May 2025 41,999 miles

Offside Front Obligatory indirect vision device seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (3.3 (b) (ii))

Central Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Pass 10 May 2024 41,595 miles

Central Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Pass 20 Apr 2023 40,588 miles
Pass 4 May 2022 39,610 miles
Pass 5 May 2021 38,804 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2021 38,790 miles

Nearside Rear Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 10 May 2019 37,891 miles

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 26 May 2017 37,320 miles
Pass 21 May 2016 36,757 miles

covers & shields fitted

Fail 17 May 2016 36,738 miles

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

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

covers & shields fitted

Pass 7 Oct 2014 35,732 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2013 33,507 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2013 31,452 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 12 Jan 2013 31,407 miles

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) DANGEROUS

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 13 Jan 2012 29,166 miles

under tray cover fitted not allowing for full inspection.

Fail 13 Jan 2012 29,166 miles

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

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

under tray cover fitted not allowing for full inspection.

Pass 9 May 2010 25,719 miles

front tyres outer edge showing signs of cracking/tread seperation

Pass 14 Mar 2009 15,525 miles

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

Pass 29 Apr 2008 19,565 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

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

Pass 30 Jan 2007 14,552 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

786 SAM is a 2003 BMW 3 Series in Black with a 2,171cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.9%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 786 SAM, 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 786 SAM?

You can check the full history of 786 SAM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 786 SAM registered?

786 SAM is a 2003 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 22 May 2003.

Is 786 SAM safe to buy?

The MOT history for 786 SAM shows 23 tests with a 73.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 786 SAM 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 786 SAM. 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.