CarVerify

Free Car Check

A17 CBY

1989 BMW 3 Series

Blue Petrol 2494cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 May 2027
Tests17 (13 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate76.5%

Mileage

99,829 mi
Last recorded99,829 miles
Recorded on22 May 2026
Typical for 1989 BMW 3 Series123,356 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

RegistrationA17 CBY
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1989
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

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

13 pass 4 fail
Pass 22 May 2026 99,829 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2021 98,999 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded from front to rear

Pass 22 Dec 2017 97,912 miles

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

Fail 21 Dec 2017 97,912 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

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

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

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

Oil leak

surface corrosion on suspension components, floor and inner sills

Pass 20 Dec 2016 96,966 miles
Fail 15 Dec 2016 96,956 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting corroded and its strength is seriously reduced (2.4.G.1)

Power steering malfunctioning power assistance not consistant (2.3.3a)

Pass 3 Dec 2015 94,944 miles

Fuel pipe slightly damaged fuel lines corroded (7.2.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Fail 2 Dec 2015 94,944 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.8)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage worn and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.8)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings inner wing / chassis (6.1.B.2)

Fuel pipe slightly damaged fuel lines corroded (7.2.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 7 Nov 2014 90,632 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2013 86,797 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2012 79,358 miles

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

Fail 5 Dec 2012 79,349 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 Sep 2011 78,941 miles

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

Nearside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

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

Offside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 15 Feb 2010 78,425 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2009 137,165 miles

O/S/F FOG LAMP HALF FULL OF WATER.

O/S/R FLOOR AREA HOLED AND CORRODED.

Pass 25 May 2007 130,833 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2006 120,383 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

A17 CBY is a 1989 BMW 3 Series in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.5%.

Across all 1989 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.9% with a typical mileage of 123,356 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 A17 CBY, 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 37 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 A17 CBY?

You can check the full history of A17 CBY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A17 CBY registered?

A17 CBY is a 1989 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 7 March 1989.

Is A17 CBY safe to buy?

The MOT history for A17 CBY shows 17 tests with a 76.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A17 CBY 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 A17 CBY. 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.