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N3 XMS

1997 Triumph Thunderbird

Black Petrol 885cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 May 2027
Tests26 (21 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80.8%

Mileage

37,523 mi
Last recorded37,523 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Triumph Thunderbird15,292 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationN3 XMS
MakeTriumph
ModelThunderbird
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine885cc

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

21 pass 5 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 37,523 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (1.1.13 (a))

Pass 31 Mar 2025 37,436 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 3 Oct 2023 37,208 miles
Fail 2 Oct 2023 37,195 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Wheel alignment slightly misaligned (2.4 (a))

Pass 27 Sep 2022 36,951 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Fail 27 Sep 2022 36,951 miles

Drive chain excessively loose (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 4 Oct 2021 36,461 miles

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Sep 2020 36,016 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2019 35,407 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Fail 27 Aug 2019 35,288 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick (1.1.13 (a)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Sep 2018 33,953 miles

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (1.1.13 (a))

Pass 19 Sep 2017 32,247 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2016 30,554 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2015 28,634 miles

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.2.A1l)

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.2.A1l)

Rear Roller brake test indicates a slightly juddering brake (3.3.A1b)

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Pass 20 Sep 2014 26,308 miles

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (3.2A1f(ii))

Pass 18 Sep 2013 24,090 miles

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.2.A1l)

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (3.2.A1f(i))

Pass 20 Sep 2012 22,424 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2011 20,769 miles

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Pass 7 Oct 2010 18,802 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2009 16,617 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2008 14,240 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick (3.2A1f(ii))

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Pass 24 Sep 2008 14,240 miles

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Pass 23 Oct 2007 12,377 miles
Fail 15 Oct 2007 12,320 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.2.A1f(i))

Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.1.3(ii))

Pass 13 Oct 2006 10,164 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2005 9,614 miles

How Reliable is the Triumph Thunderbird?

Based on 66,789 MOT tests across 6,108 vehicles.

89.1%
Pass Rate
540
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
6,108
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 473
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 371
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 285
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 249
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 173
Full Triumph Thunderbird reliability report

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N3 XMS is a 1997 Triumph Thunderbird in Black with a 885cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80.8%.

Across all 1997 Triumph Thunderbird models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.7% with a typical mileage of 15,292 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 Triumph Thunderbird fails its MOT is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, accounting for 473 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N3 XMS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Triumph Thunderbird typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Triumph Thunderbird is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N3 XMS?

You can check the full history of N3 XMS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N3 XMS registered?

N3 XMS is a 1997 Triumph Thunderbird, first registered on 23 June 1997.

Is N3 XMS safe to buy?

The MOT history for N3 XMS shows 26 tests with a 80.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N3 XMS 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 N3 XMS. 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.