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A3 PBU

1988 BMW 3 Series

Blue Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires15 Jun 2026
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

120,819 mi
Last recorded120,819 miles
Recorded on18 Jun 2026
Typical for 1988 BMW 3 Series118,461 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationA3 PBU
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1988
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

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

18 pass 9 fail
Fail 18 Jun 2026 120,819 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 16 Jun 2025 120,728 miles

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

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

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Front suspension components corroded but not seriously weakened

Rear suspension components corroded but not seriously weakened

Pass 10 Jun 2024 120,351 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 205/40/17 (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 205/40/17 (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 12 Jun 2023 119,752 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2022 119,355 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2021 118,964 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material x2 (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 26 Nov 2019 117,668 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm bush is starting to split (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm bush is starting to split (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 25 Nov 2019 117,666 miles

Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side low reading plus wont lock out (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side low reading plus wont lock out (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm bush is starting to split (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm bush is starting to split (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Nov 2018 116,719 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2017 116,029 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2016 115,051 miles

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

Pass 30 Jun 2015 113,622 miles

both rear tyres close to limit of 1.6mm and worn on inner edges close to cords.

Fail 29 Jun 2015 113,622 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

both rear tyres worn on inner edges.

Pass 6 Jun 2014 111,922 miles

rear tyres slightly worn on inner edges

Pass 22 May 2013 109,032 miles
Pass 22 May 2012 107,085 miles

surface corrion under side of car

Fail 17 May 2012 107,085 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

surface corrion under side of car

Pass 12 May 2011 106,203 miles

Offside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

exhaust system getting rusty

plastic sills fitted

rubber suspension mounts beginning to crack and perish

surface corrosion on pipework

surface corrosion on underside and components

Fail 9 May 2011 106,203 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

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

Offside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

exhaust system getting rusty

plastic sills fitted

rubber suspension mounts beginning to crack and perish

surface corrosion on pipework

surface corrosion on underside and components

Fail 6 May 2011 106,202 miles

Centre Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

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

abs not fitted

exhaust rusty

plastic sills fitted

rubber suspension mounts beginning to crack and perish

surface corrosion bad on underside and pipes

Pass 26 Jun 2009 105,869 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

offside front tyre 3.5mm

Fail 12 Jun 2009 105,865 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 24 Jun 2008 104,988 miles

both covers on front legs torn

plstic sillcovers fitted

Fail 12 Jun 2008 104,988 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp sequence is incorrect (3.4.1d)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust engine idle speed too high (7.3.D.1)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

both front susprension shields defective

sill plastic covers fitted

Pass 26 Jun 2007 102,424 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

underside rubber mounts showing age

Fail 21 Jun 2007 102,423 miles

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Front position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

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

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

underside ruber montings showing age

Pass 3 Apr 2006 97,550 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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A3 PBU is a 1988 BMW 3 Series in Blue with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 A3 PBU, 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 A3 PBU?

You can check the full history of A3 PBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A3 PBU registered?

A3 PBU is a 1988 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 18 May 1988.

Is A3 PBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for A3 PBU shows 27 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A3 PBU 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 A3 PBU. 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.