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A17 VAW

1988 BMW 3 Series

White Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Sep 2026
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

167,273 mi
Last recorded167,273 miles
Recorded on2 Sep 2025
Typical for 1988 BMW 3 Series118,461 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationA17 VAW
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1988
ColourWhite
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 2 Sep 2025 167,273 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2024 166,962 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2023 166,336 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2022 165,592 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2021 164,390 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2020 163,748 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2019 163,549 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2018 163,011 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2017 161,793 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2016 160,971 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2015 160,264 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2014 160,048 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2014 160,048 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 31 Jul 2013 159,073 miles
Fail 29 Jul 2013 159,073 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 14 Aug 2012 157,122 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2011 154,450 miles

Centre Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 3 Aug 2010 15,170 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2009 148,090 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 11 Aug 2009 148,090 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 27 Aug 2008 144,788 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2008 144,788 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Pass 29 Aug 2007 140,142 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2006 135,346 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Pass 1 Aug 2006 135,346 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

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A17 VAW is a 1988 BMW 3 Series in White with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1988 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.1% with a typical mileage of 118,461 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 VAW, 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 38 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 VAW?

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

What year was A17 VAW registered?

A17 VAW is a 1988 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 14 June 1988.

Is A17 VAW safe to buy?

The MOT history for A17 VAW shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A17 VAW 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 VAW. 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.