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L444 FAL

1997 BMW Z3

Red Petrol 2793cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires24 Jun 2026
Tests31 (16 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate51.6%

Mileage

83,258 mi
Last recorded83,258 miles
Recorded on25 Jun 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationL444 FAL
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourRed
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

16 pass 15 fail
Pass 25 Jun 2025 83,258 miles

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

Fuel tank straps corroded

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Underside has surface corrosion (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 24 Jun 2025 83,258 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

Fuel tank straps corroded

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Underside has surface corrosion (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Jul 2023 83,243 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 27 Jun 2023 83,218 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 22 May 2019 82,120 miles

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

Fail 16 May 2019 82,120 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Pass 19 May 2018 80,316 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a track control arm inner bush (2.5.B.2b)

Pass 18 Jul 2017 79,620 miles
Fail 17 Jul 2017 79,620 miles

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

Pass 5 Aug 2016 78,860 miles
Fail 23 Jul 2016 78,860 miles

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Pass 30 Jul 2015 78,300 miles

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

oil leak at rear axle

Fail 28 Jul 2015 78,300 miles

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

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

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

oil leak at rear axle

Pass 2 Aug 2014 77,976 miles

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

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

oil leak at diff

Fail 30 Jul 2014 77,974 miles

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

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

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

brake sensor warning light on

oil leak at diff

Pass 1 Aug 2013 77,588 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

brake wear indicator light on pads ok

Fail 1 Aug 2013 77,588 miles

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

brake wear indicator light on pads ok

Pass 2 Aug 2012 76,281 miles
Fail 26 Jul 2012 76,281 miles

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

brake warning light on on dash

Pass 28 Jul 2011 75,269 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2010 73,878 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2010 73,878 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 17 Apr 2010 72,770 miles

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

Fail 16 Apr 2010 72,765 miles

Nearside Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

Nearside Front Upper Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Offside Front Upper Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

play in offside and near side steering rack ball ends / damage to offside rear floor area / near side front tyre worn on inside edge

Pass 28 Jul 2009 71,239 miles

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

Fail 22 Jul 2009 71,142 miles

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

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 17 Jul 2008 65,516 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2008 65,509 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

Pass 19 Jun 2007 59,707 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2006 54,657 miles
Fail 31 May 2006 54,567 miles

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

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

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

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

How Reliable is the BMW Z3?

Based on 498,063 MOT tests across 26,000 vehicles.

73.2%
Pass Rate
2,128
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
26,000
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 17,103
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,600
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 10,064
position lamp(s) not working 9,305
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 7,992
Full BMW Z3 reliability report

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L444 FAL is a 1997 BMW Z3 in Red with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 51.6%.

Across all 1997 BMW Z3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 83,222 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 Z3 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 17,103 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L444 FAL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW Z3 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this BMW Z3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of L444 FAL?

You can check the full history of L444 FAL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L444 FAL registered?

L444 FAL is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 8 October 1997.

Is L444 FAL safe to buy?

The MOT history for L444 FAL shows 31 tests with a 51.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L444 FAL 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 L444 FAL. 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.