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E36 LTU

1998 BMW 3 Series

Silver Petrol 2793cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Oct 2026
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

180,428 mi
Last recorded180,428 miles
Recorded on19 Sep 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW 3 Series106,396 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationE36 LTU
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,793cc

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
Pass 19 Sep 2025 180,428 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Fail 19 Sep 2025 180,428 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 7 Oct 2024 180,305 miles

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

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Fuel tank slightly loose (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 5 May 2023 180,193 miles

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

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both 225/45/17 (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 30 Nov 2021 180,001 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2021 179,561 miles

Nearside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 25 Aug 2020 171,185 miles

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

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

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

outyer sill slightly corroded

Fail 6 Dec 2018 170,281 miles

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

N/S & O/S floor and sills corroding

Nearside Front Lower Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component Steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 5 Dec 2017 168,550 miles

Offside Floor/sill corroding

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

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 5 Dec 2016 166,687 miles

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

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

Oil leak ()

Fail 5 Dec 2016 166,685 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak ()

Pass 8 Dec 2015 164,162 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi-hose (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi-hose (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Inner Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

mileometer not illuminated

Fail 2 Dec 2015 164,112 miles

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

Nearside Lower Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi-hose (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi-hose (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Inner Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 4 Dec 2014 161,594 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 25 Nov 2014 161,465 miles

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 21 Nov 2013 158,712 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2012 155,781 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

near-side rear tyre outer wall starting to deteriorate

Fail 7 Nov 2012 155,694 miles

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Outer Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 8 Nov 2011 152,337 miles

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

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 4 Nov 2011 152,298 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 Nov 2010 148,802 miles

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 Nov 2009 147,520 miles

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

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

Pass 24 Oct 2008 144,881 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2007 141,052 miles
Fail 20 Oct 2007 141,052 miles

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

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

Pass 4 Nov 2006 135,813 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2006 135,813 miles

Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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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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.

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E36 LTU is a 1998 BMW 3 Series in Silver with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 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 E36 LTU, 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 E36 LTU?

You can check the full history of E36 LTU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E36 LTU registered?

E36 LTU is a 1998 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is E36 LTU safe to buy?

The MOT history for E36 LTU 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 E36 LTU 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 E36 LTU. 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.