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B18 RSA

1996 BMW M3

Purple Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Jul 2026
Tests18 (12 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

99,999 mi
Last recorded99,999 miles
Recorded on11 Jul 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW M3100,666 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

RegistrationB18 RSA
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1996
ColourPurple
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,201cc

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

12 pass 6 fail
Pass 11 Jul 2025 99,999 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2022 99,533 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2019 99,450 miles
Fail 21 Oct 2019 99,450 miles

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 23 Aug 2018 56,964 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2017 55,275 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2015 55,200 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2013 53,273 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2012 88,955 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 24 Mar 2011 85,523 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

knocking noise at rear

Fail 10 Jul 2010 85,078 miles

Nearside Front Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Front coil spring cracked (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

brake warning light on wire broken on nsf

engine overheats

knocking from front suspension

Pass 9 May 2009 80,934 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2009 80,915 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 2 Feb 2009 80,899 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

Pass 29 Jan 2008 72,656 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2008 72,656 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 23 Nov 2006 68,171 miles

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

Fail 13 Sep 2006 68,756 miles

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

Nearside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

Offside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

How Reliable is the BMW M3?

Based on 440,678 MOT tests across 34,038 vehicles.

80.8%
Pass Rate
3,682
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
34,038
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14,421
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,386
coil spring incomplete 5,157
coil spring fractured 4,494
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,944
Full BMW M3 reliability report

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B18 RSA is a 1996 BMW M3 in Purple with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1996 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 100,666 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 M3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 14,421 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B18 RSA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW M3 typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 30 years old, this BMW M3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B18 RSA?

You can check the full history of B18 RSA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B18 RSA registered?

B18 RSA is a 1996 BMW M3, first registered on 8 May 1996.

Is B18 RSA safe to buy?

The MOT history for B18 RSA shows 18 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 B18 RSA 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 B18 RSA. 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.