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M3 FNB

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Feb 2027
Tests21 (15 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

125,827 mi
Last recorded125,827 miles
Recorded on31 Jan 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationM3 FNB
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,201cc

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

15 pass 6 fail
Pass 31 Jan 2026 125,827 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 7 Feb 2025 125,649 miles

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))

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

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

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

Pass 9 Feb 2024 125,117 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2023 124,743 miles

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front 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))

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 8 Feb 2023 124,742 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front 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))

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 9 Feb 2022 123,540 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All front and rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 9 Feb 2022 123,540 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All front and rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 12 Feb 2021 122,382 miles
Pass 5 May 2017 122,340 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2014 122,303 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

exhaust deteriorated

Fail 12 Apr 2014 122,301 miles

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

exhaust deteriorated

Pass 21 Aug 2012 119,972 miles

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 21 Jul 2011 116,914 miles

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

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

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

Steering system lightly rubbing (2.2.D.2a)

Pass 7 Aug 2010 112,478 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 8 Aug 2009 109,848 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2008 103,754 miles

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

Fail 2 Jun 2008 103,656 miles

Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Please see service advisory sheet for full list of advisory items.

Slight binding on O/S/R wheel.

Slightly excessive free travel in handbrake lever

Pass 9 Jun 2007 100,559 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2007 100,559 miles

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Bonnet retaining device slightly deteriorated (8.4.2)

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

air bag lamp on

Pass 3 May 2006 90,282 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2006 90,260 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely by positive means (7.2.4b)

Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

How Reliable is the BMW M3?

Based on 440,678 MOT tests across 34,038 vehicles.

80.8%
Pass Rate
3,682
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
34,038
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14,421
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,386
coil spring incomplete 5,157
coil spring fractured 4,494
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,944
Full BMW M3 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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M3 FNB is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1997 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.9% with a typical mileage of 96,985 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 M3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 14,421 recorded failures. If you're considering buying M3 FNB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW M3 typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 29 years old, this BMW M3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of M3 FNB?

You can check the full history of M3 FNB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M3 FNB registered?

M3 FNB is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is M3 FNB safe to buy?

The MOT history for M3 FNB shows 21 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M3 FNB 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 M3 FNB. 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.