CarVerify

Free Car Check

P18 ACM

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires10 Jul 2026
Tests18 (12 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

74,376 mi
Last recorded74,376 miles
Recorded on11 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 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

RegistrationP18 ACM
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

12 pass 6 fail
Pass 11 Jul 2025 74,376 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 10 Jul 2024 74,176 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2019 73,979 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2019 73,977 miles

Emissions NOx sensor obviously defective (8.2.1.1 (a))

Pass 17 Jul 2017 73,718 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2017 73,713 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Fail 30 Jun 2017 73,691 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 hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play and o/s/f (2.2.B.1f)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 29 Jul 2015 73,285 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2015 73,263 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 16 Oct 2012 72,910 miles

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

Fail 16 Oct 2012 72,910 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 6 Oct 2011 72,354 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2010 69,482 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2010 69,482 miles

Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 6 Aug 2009 62,001 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2008 53,619 miles
Pass 18 May 2007 47,160 miles
Pass 18 May 2006 40,875 miles

bubble rust starting on inner and outer door seals

front brake pads starting to wear

n/s/r tyre starting to wear

o/s/f washer jet needs adjusting

o/s/f wiper blade split on ends

small stone chip on front screen but less than 10mm

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

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

P18 ACM is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 P18 ACM, 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 P18 ACM?

You can check the full history of P18 ACM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P18 ACM registered?

P18 ACM is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 13 March 1997.

Is P18 ACM safe to buy?

The MOT history for P18 ACM shows 18 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 P18 ACM 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 P18 ACM. 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.