CarVerify

Free Car Check

J163 JAS

1991 BMW 3 Series

Blue Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Sep 2026
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

109,154 mi
Last recorded109,154 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 2025
Typical for 1991 BMW 3 Series122,236 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationJ163 JAS
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1991
ColourBlue
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

17 pass 9 fail
Pass 4 Sep 2025 109,154 miles

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 23 Sep 2024 109,147 miles

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Fail 29 Jul 2024 109,140 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Driver's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.5 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Fail 22 Apr 2023 109,122 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor / chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front steering rack arm slight play

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Inner wheel arch front corroded and holed

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear both rear backing plate rusty

Rear suspension arms surface rust

Pass 9 May 2022 108,541 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Inner wing corr/holed

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 4 May 2021 107,409 miles

Offside Front Inner wing corr/holed

Pass 6 May 2020 107,373 miles

Front chassis legs surface rust

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside sill surface rust

Offside Front valance to inner wingcorr/holed

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear quarter pannel to boot floor corr/holed

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

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

Rear arches rusty

Fail 8 Apr 2020 107,371 miles

Central Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength wing near brake hose mounting (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front chassis legs surface rust

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside sill surface rust

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front valance to inner wing corr/holed

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear valance to boot floor corr/holed

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

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

Rear under sills surface rust

Rear wheel arches rusty

Pass 12 Jul 2018 106,555 miles

Offside Front inner wing corr/holed

Offside Rear brake backing plate veary rusty

Rear arches and under sills surface rust

slight wear rear wishbone bushes

Fail 12 Jul 2018 106,555 miles

Offside Front inner wing corr/holed

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Rear brake backing plate veary rusty

Rear arches and under sills surface rust

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

slight wear rear wishbone bushes

Pass 20 Jul 2017 105,385 miles

Offside Front inner wing rusty

Oil leak ()

Rear under sills surface rust

Pass 1 Jul 2016 103,799 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2016 103,799 miles

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 23 Apr 2015 103,407 miles

slight oil leak ???

surfaces rust fuel pipes

Fail 16 Apr 2015 103,407 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

slight oil leak ???

surfaces rust fuel pipes

Pass 14 Apr 2014 102,291 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2014 102,291 miles

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 18 Apr 2013 100,431 miles

cat loose in exhaust box

o/s/f brake backing plate rusty

power steering pipes damp

rear anti roll bar and brackets rusty

slight play in both rear top shocker bushes and axle bushes

surface rust both door steps

Fail 13 Apr 2013 100,431 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

cat loose in exhaust box

o/s/f brake backing plate rusty

power steering pipes damp

rear anti roll bar and brackets rusty

slight play in both rear top shocker bushes and axle bushes

surface rust both door steps

Pass 12 Apr 2012 99,722 miles

rear arches surface rust

rear outer sills and under sills rusty

Pass 31 Mar 2011 95,335 miles

n/s/rear arch rusty

rear under and outer sills surface rust

Fail 31 Mar 2011 95,335 miles

Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

n/s/rear arch rusty

rear under and outer sills surface rust

Pass 9 Apr 2010 87,383 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

steps and sills surface rust

Pass 7 Apr 2009 80,520 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2008 72,649 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2006 69,688 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

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

J163 JAS is a 1991 BMW 3 Series in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

Across all 1991 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.7% with a typical mileage of 122,236 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 J163 JAS, 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 35 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 J163 JAS?

You can check the full history of J163 JAS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J163 JAS registered?

J163 JAS is a 1991 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 1 August 1991.

Is J163 JAS safe to buy?

The MOT history for J163 JAS shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J163 JAS 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 J163 JAS. 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.