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A1 LAV

1998 BMW 3 Series

Silver Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Oct 2026
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

70,875 mi
Last recorded70,875 miles
Recorded on8 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 3 Series106,396 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

RegistrationA1 LAV
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Oct 2025 70,875 miles
Pass 28 Oct 2024 70,680 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2023 69,715 miles

Nearside Rear 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))

Fail 8 Nov 2023 69,712 miles

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

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn REAR BUSH (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear 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 7 Nov 2022
Pass 10 Nov 2021 67,672 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2020 64,503 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2019 61,596 miles

Exhaust mounting defective DOWN PIPE (6.1.2 (a))

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output CONDENSATION ON BOTH (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 5 Nov 2018 59,871 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Nov 2017 59,321 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2016 58,922 miles

Offside Rear Outer drive shaft boot deteriorating

Pass 9 Nov 2015 58,126 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2014 57,261 miles
Fail 15 Nov 2013 356,094 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

both reat tyres cracked on outer edges

Pass 15 Nov 2013 56,094 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

both reat tyres cracked on outer edges

Pass 30 Oct 2012 55,192 miles

air bag light on

Fail 30 Oct 2012 55,192 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

air bag light on

Pass 24 Nov 2011 50,479 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2011 50,479 miles

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

front and rear indicator bulbs loosing their colour

Pass 26 Nov 2010 53,312 miles

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 23 Nov 2010 53,304 miles

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 17 Nov 2009 51,753 miles
Pass 11 Nov 2008 49,963 miles

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

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2007 48,720 miles
Fail 19 Nov 2007 48,673 miles

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 16 Nov 2006 46,800 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2005 43,804 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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A1 LAV is a 1998 BMW 3 Series in Silver with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

Across all 1998 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 106,396 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 A1 LAV, 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 28 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 A1 LAV?

You can check the full history of A1 LAV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A1 LAV registered?

A1 LAV is a 1998 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 2 January 1998.

Is A1 LAV safe to buy?

The MOT history for A1 LAV shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A1 LAV 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 A1 LAV. 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.