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N17 TDB

2012 BMW 3 Series

Grey Petrol 2996cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Jan 2027
Tests16 (12 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

118,229 mi
Last recorded118,229 miles
Recorded on29 Jan 2026
Typical for 2012 BMW 3 Series77,866 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationN17 TDB
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2012
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,996cc

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

12 pass 4 fail
Pass 29 Jan 2026 118,229 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 26 Jan 2026 118,229 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 28 Jan 2025 109,216 miles

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 24 Jan 2025 109,212 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 8 Jan 2024 105,889 miles
Fail 8 Jan 2024 105,889 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 16 Jan 2023 102,562 miles
Pass 18 Jan 2022 98,463 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2021 94,048 miles

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

Fail 8 Jan 2021 94,045 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 8 Jan 2020 88,408 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 Jan 2019 71,370 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald on edges 225/40zr18 88y michelins (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge bald on edges (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 8 Jan 2018 51,260 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit wearing on inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit wearing on inner edge (4.1.E.1)

Pass 22 Dec 2016 39,300 miles
Pass 4 Jan 2016 27,632 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2015 27,957 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

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

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

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

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N17 TDB is a 2012 BMW 3 Series in Grey with a 2,996cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 2012 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.1% with a typical mileage of 77,866 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 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 N17 TDB, 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 14 years old, this BMW 3 Series is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N17 TDB?

You can check the full history of N17 TDB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N17 TDB registered?

N17 TDB is a 2012 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 27 September 2012.

Is N17 TDB safe to buy?

The MOT history for N17 TDB shows 16 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N17 TDB 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 N17 TDB. 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.