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A3 SYJ

2002 BMW 3 Series

Gold Petrol 2979cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Dec 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

125,710 mi
Last recorded125,710 miles
Recorded on9 Dec 2025
Typical for 2002 BMW 3 Series91,357 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationA3 SYJ
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2002
ColourGold
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,979cc

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 8 fail
Pass 9 Dec 2025 125,710 miles

under tray covers

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

headlamp level rod

Pass 12 Dec 2024 123,941 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm 255/35/18 (5.2.3 (e))

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

headlamp self levelling rods

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 28 Nov 2023 122,448 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive floor (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive floor (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 25 Nov 2022 121,332 miles

under body and engine covers fitted

Fail 23 Nov 2022 121,306 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage fractured broken (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 16 Dec 2021 119,846 miles

All direction indicators slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

under body and engine covers fitted

Fail 24 Nov 2021 119,838 miles

Nearside Floor excessively deteriorated (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Floor excessively deteriorated (6.2.4 (a) (i))

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

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

All direction indicators slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 25 Nov 2020 118,092 miles

Exhaust mounting defective flange bolts corroded (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Side repeater slightly discoloured both (4.4.3 (a))

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking points (6.1.1 (c) (i))

under body and engine covers fitted

washers working but weak

Pass 18 Nov 2019 116,406 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm 255/35/18 and side wall damage (5.2.3 (e))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive oil visible (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 30 Nov 2018 113,273 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged 255/35/18 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside floor corroding

Oil leak, but not excessive oil visible (8.4.1 (a) (i))

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 20 Nov 2017 109,858 miles

under body and engine covers fitted

Pass 29 Nov 2016 105,821 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

under body and engine covers fitted

Fail 18 Nov 2016 105,590 miles

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

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

under body and engine covers fitted

Nearside Rear Outer Rear position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 27 Nov 2015 101,333 miles

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

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

slight oil visible

underbody and engine covers fitted

Pass 3 Dec 2014 96,452 miles

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

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

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

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

number plate light dull

Pass 6 Dec 2013 90,897 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 30 Nov 2013 90,819 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 19 Nov 2012 85,965 miles

Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

slight play in steering rack

Fail 19 Nov 2012 85,965 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

slight play in steering rack

Pass 3 Dec 2011 80,635 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2010 75,224 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

wipers smearing

Pass 10 Dec 2009 69,511 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 8 Dec 2009 69,507 miles

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Pass 4 Dec 2008 63,397 miles
Fail 4 Dec 2008 63,397 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Pass 16 May 2007 55,054 miles

front brake pads 2.5mm

rear brake pads 2.0mm

Pass 31 May 2006 47,182 miles
Fail 31 May 2006 47,182 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has damage which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has damage which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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 SYJ is a 2002 BMW 3 Series in Gold with a 2,979cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 2002 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.4% with a typical mileage of 91,357 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 SYJ, 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 24 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 A3 SYJ?

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

What year was A3 SYJ registered?

A3 SYJ is a 2002 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 10 June 2002.

Is A3 SYJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for A3 SYJ shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A3 SYJ 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 SYJ. 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.