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M3 XVC

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Oct 2026
Tests26 (18 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

126,048 mi
Last recorded126,048 miles
Recorded on15 Oct 2025
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 XVC
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

18 pass 8 fail
Pass 15 Oct 2025 126,048 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting corroded but its strength is not seriously reduced (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 16 Oct 2024 125,962 miles

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

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

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

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

Rear (Nearside & Offside) General surface rusting

Pass 7 Jun 2023 125,862 miles

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

Pass 1 Jun 2022 125,853 miles
Pass 14 Jan 2021 125,413 miles

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

Pass 7 Jun 2019 125,097 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2019 125,097 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Jun 2018 124,741 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2018 124,741 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Pass 6 Jun 2017 124,523 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2016 124,181 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2015 123,412 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2015 123,330 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front 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 19 Apr 2014 121,978 miles

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

Fail 19 Apr 2014 121,978 miles

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

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 6 Apr 2013 1,485 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2012 120,354 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2011 120,166 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

air con rad wet and leaking air con oil

n/s/f and o/s/f antiroll bar links gaitors split

Pass 26 Nov 2010 119,987 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 17 Nov 2010 119,974 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Jul 2009 119,373 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 4 Jul 2009 119,360 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Jun 2008 117,828 miles

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 27 Apr 2007 113,883 miles

Suspension joint nearside lower dust cover split/missing

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Oil leak

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

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Fail 25 Apr 2007 113,849 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

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

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

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

Pass 30 Mar 2006 103,848 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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 XVC is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

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 XVC, 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 XVC?

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

What year was M3 XVC registered?

M3 XVC is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is M3 XVC safe to buy?

The MOT history for M3 XVC shows 26 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M3 XVC 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 XVC. 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.