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M3 VFT

1997 BMW M3

Black Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Sep 2026
Tests21 (14 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

100,436 mi
Last recorded100,436 miles
Recorded on22 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 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

RegistrationM3 VFT
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

14 pass 7 fail
Pass 22 Sep 2025 100,436 miles
Fail 22 Sep 2025 100,436 miles

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

Pass 29 May 2024 100,836 miles
Pass 22 May 2023 99,781 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2016 96,478 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear coil spring corroded both (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 20 May 2015 95,302 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Lower Radius arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

Fail 14 May 2014 91,733 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Oil leak

Pass 14 May 2014 91,733 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Pass 16 Apr 2013 86,690 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2013 86,686 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

severe oil leak from engine

Pass 17 May 2012 83,838 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2011 81,341 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2010 77,562 miles

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

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

Pass 12 May 2009 73,805 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Oil leak

oil leak diff

Fail 7 May 2009 73,805 miles

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

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Offside Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Oil leak

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

oil leak diff

Pass 9 May 2008 70,779 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Fail 8 May 2008 70,775 miles

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

Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 26 Apr 2007 66,603 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2007 66,603 miles

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 21 Apr 2006 62,683 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2006 62,683 miles

Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

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

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

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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M3 VFT is a 1997 BMW M3 in Black with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 VFT, 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 VFT?

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

What year was M3 VFT registered?

M3 VFT is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 12 February 1997.

Is M3 VFT safe to buy?

The MOT history for M3 VFT shows 21 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M3 VFT 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 VFT. 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.