CarVerify

Free Car Check

P173 GVN

1997 BMW Z3

White Petrol 1895cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Apr 2027
Tests20 (16 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

79,600 mi
Last recorded79,600 miles
Recorded on15 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP173 GVN
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,895cc

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

16 pass 4 fail
Pass 15 Apr 2026 79,600 miles

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

Pass 3 Mar 2025 74,274 miles

Rear braking and suspension components are corroded

unable to fully inspect sills due to factory fitted side skirts

Fail 7 Feb 2025 74,260 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Rear General underbody corrosion to suspension and braking components

Rear Parking brake application is uneven

Unable to fully inspect sills due to factory side skirts

Pass 25 Jun 2019 72,350 miles

Rear fog lamp switch not operating in accordance with the requirements (4.5.3 (a) (i))

battery cover missing

Fail 24 Jun 2019 72,350 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases middle joint (6.1.2 (a))

Rear fog lamp switch not operating in accordance with the requirements (4.5.3 (a) (i))

battery cover missing

Pass 15 Jun 2018 70,469 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2017 68,804 miles
Pass 12 May 2016 68,100 miles
Fail 11 May 2016 68,097 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 27 Mar 2015 65,326 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2014 59,135 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Mar 2013 54,628 miles
Fail 21 Mar 2013 54,617 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 27 Mar 2012 53,033 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2011 50,165 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

airbag warning light on

Pass 30 Mar 2010 48,422 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2009 47,602 miles

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

air bag warning light on

Pass 14 Apr 2008 46,550 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2007 45,210 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2006 43,995 miles

How Reliable is the BMW Z3?

Based on 498,063 MOT tests across 26,000 vehicles.

73.2%
Pass Rate
2,128
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
26,000
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 17,103
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,600
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 10,064
position lamp(s) not working 9,305
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 7,992
Full BMW Z3 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P173 GVN is a 1997 BMW Z3 in White with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1997 BMW Z3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 83,222 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW Z3 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 17,103 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P173 GVN, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW Z3 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this BMW Z3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P173 GVN?

You can check the full history of P173 GVN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P173 GVN registered?

P173 GVN is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 20 February 1997.

Is P173 GVN safe to buy?

The MOT history for P173 GVN shows 20 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P173 GVN 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 P173 GVN. 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.