CarVerify

Free Car Check

LPN 947W

1981 BMW 3 Series

Red Petrol 2315cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Feb 2026
Tests16 (13 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate81.3%

Mileage

106,671 mi
Last recorded106,671 miles
Recorded on4 Feb 2025
Typical for 1981 BMW 3 Series97,200 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

RegistrationLPN 947W
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1981
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,315cc

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

13 pass 3 fail
Pass 4 Feb 2025 106,671 miles

Offside Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Jan 2025 106,646 miles

All direction indicators not working no indicators working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn bush has excess movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Inner Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill corroded and holed near rear suspension (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material brake pipe has slight corrosion on it (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 27 May 2022 105,012 miles
Pass 27 May 2021 160,443 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2020 160,150 miles

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

Fail 6 Mar 2020 160,150 miles

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 11 May 2018 158,322 miles
Pass 4 May 2017 157,287 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2016 157,083 miles
Pass 13 May 2015 155,742 miles

rear steel brake pipes corroded

Pass 18 Jan 2011 104,710 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2009 104,710 miles
Fail 24 Nov 2009 104,710 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 19 Nov 2008 104,710 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2007 104,710 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

front nearside tyre showing signs of deterioration on the inside wall

Pass 18 Aug 2006 104,789 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

LPN 947W is a 1981 BMW 3 Series in Red with a 2,315cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.3%.

Across all 1981 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.2% with a typical mileage of 97,200 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 LPN 947W, 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 45 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 LPN 947W?

You can check the full history of LPN 947W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was LPN 947W registered?

LPN 947W is a 1981 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 1 January 1981.

Is LPN 947W safe to buy?

The MOT history for LPN 947W shows 16 tests with a 81.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does LPN 947W 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 LPN 947W. 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.