CarVerify

Free Car Check

A3 VHL

1997 BMW 3 Series

Green Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires17 Jul 2014
Tests9 (7 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

139,034 mi
Last recorded139,034 miles
Recorded on18 Jul 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW 3 Series110,506 mi

Above 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

RegistrationA3 VHL
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

7 pass 2 fail
Pass 18 Jul 2013 139,034 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2013 138,571 miles

Nearside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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)

Pass 24 Apr 2012 128,585 miles

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

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

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

Fail 24 Apr 2012 128,585 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 6 Apr 2011 119,049 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2010 115,245 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Apr 2009 110,154 miles

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

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

Pass 2 Apr 2008 104,019 miles

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

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

Pass 15 Dec 2006 91,734 miles

Nearside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

A3 VHL is a 1997 BMW 3 Series in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

Across all 1997 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.5% with a typical mileage of 110,506 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 A3 VHL, 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 29 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 VHL?

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

What year was A3 VHL registered?

A3 VHL is a 1997 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 23 April 1997.

Is A3 VHL safe to buy?

The MOT history for A3 VHL shows 9 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 A3 VHL 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 VHL. 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.