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J40 SPA

1991 BMW 3 Series

Red Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Oct 2026
Tests25 (21 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate84%

Mileage

133,504 mi
Last recorded133,504 miles
Recorded on24 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ40 SPA
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1991
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

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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

21 pass 4 fail
Pass 24 Sep 2025 133,504 miles
Pass 11 Oct 2024 132,474 miles
Fail 1 Oct 2024 132,407 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Pass 6 Oct 2023 131,371 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Aug 2022 130,467 miles

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

Pass 19 Aug 2021 129,406 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2021 129,384 miles

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 4 Aug 2020 128,582 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 13 Aug 2019 127,157 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2018 125,659 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2018 125,639 miles

Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Inner Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 22 Aug 2017 123,960 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2016 122,602 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2015 120,025 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2014 117,014 miles

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

Pass 11 Sep 2013 113,781 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2012 110,490 miles
Fail 10 Sep 2012 110,436 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 13 Sep 2011 108,808 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2010 108,016 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2009 106,993 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2008 105,413 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2007 102,742 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2006 101,549 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2005 99,882 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

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J40 SPA is a 1991 BMW 3 Series in Red with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84%.

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 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 J40 SPA, 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 J40 SPA?

You can check the full history of J40 SPA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J40 SPA registered?

J40 SPA is a 1991 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 1 August 1991.

Is J40 SPA safe to buy?

The MOT history for J40 SPA shows 25 tests with a 84% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J40 SPA 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 J40 SPA. 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.