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P178 CVA

1997 BMW Z3

Silver Petrol 1895cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Jan 2025
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

121,611 mi
Last recorded121,611 miles
Recorded on21 May 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP178 CVA
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourSilver
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

18 pass 9 fail
Fail 21 May 2025 121,611 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect Both side (4.1.2 (c))

Front Headlamp lens seriously defective Both side (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Engine overheated

Pass 31 Jan 2024 120,658 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2022 117,314 miles

Front Vehicle structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 6 Aug 2021 113,409 miles

Headlamp lens slightly defective both lamps (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 6 Aug 2020 108,793 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2019 105,580 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2018 104,586 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

nearside front tyre perished

Fail 30 Jul 2018 104,586 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

nearside front tyre perished

Pass 18 Jul 2017 104,050 miles

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

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

Fail 18 Jul 2017 104,050 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 Aug 2016 103,034 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2015 100,810 miles

front brake discs corroded and worn

front brake pads worn to excess

Fail 17 Sep 2015 100,810 miles

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

front brake discs corroded and worn

front brake pads worn to excess

Pass 11 Sep 2014 98,472 miles

front brake pads worn to excess

Pass 13 Sep 2013 96,042 miles

n/s/r tyre worn to legal limit and perished

Fail 7 Sep 2012 93,557 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

hand brake travel

nearside rear tyre worn low

scratches to screen

Pass 7 Sep 2012 93,557 miles

hand brake travel

nearside rear tyre worn low

scratches to screen

Pass 27 Aug 2011 91,482 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2010 79,685 miles

Nail in offside front tyre

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Tread getting low on both rear and o/s/f tyres.

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 3 Sep 2010 79,671 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) DANGEROUS

Nail in offside front tyre

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Tread getting low on both rear and o/s/f tyres.

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 2 Sep 2009 78,924 miles

nearside front tyre badly cracking strongly advise replacement

offside front tyre starting to crack

play in both sides rubber mounted bottom ball joints

Fail 13 Jul 2009 38,854 miles

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

Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

Pass 9 Jul 2008 77,290 miles

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

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

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

nearside front tyre wall cracking

Pass 12 Jul 2007 75,145 miles

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

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

n/s/f tyre wall cracking

Fail 12 Jul 2007 75,145 miles

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

n/s/f tyre wall cracking / perrishing

Pass 29 Jun 2006 68,663 miles
Fail 21 Jun 2006 68,324 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

EXHAUST BACK BOX CORRODING

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

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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.

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P178 CVA is a 1997 BMW Z3 in Silver with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 P178 CVA, 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 P178 CVA?

You can check the full history of P178 CVA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P178 CVA registered?

P178 CVA is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 27 March 1997.

Is P178 CVA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P178 CVA shows 27 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 P178 CVA 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 P178 CVA. 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.