CarVerify

Free Car Check

P224 FTA

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Feb 2027
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

80,400 mi
Last recorded80,400 miles
Recorded on17 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationP224 FTA
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

20 pass 3 fail
Pass 17 Jan 2026 80,400 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material various (1.1.11 (c))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced all jacking points (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 11 Jan 2025 80,326 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material VARIOUS (1.1.11 (c))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced ALL JACKING PIONTS! (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 27 Jan 2024 80,006 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material VARIOUS (1.1.11 (c))

Front Inner Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced BOTH SILLS (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 21 Jan 2023 79,412 miles

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both front floors (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Jan 2022 78,394 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2021 77,239 miles

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both sides sills (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 1 Feb 2020 76,999 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2019 76,022 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2018 74,978 miles
Pass 28 Jan 2017 73,704 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2016 70,564 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Jan 2016 70,564 miles

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

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

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

Pass 31 Jan 2015 68,895 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2014 67,343 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 2 Feb 2013 63,568 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2012 56,342 miles
Fail 14 Jan 2012 56,323 miles

Nearside Front coil spring cracked (2.4.C.1a)

air bag light on

front to rear b/pipes corroid

Pass 6 Oct 2010 52,443 miles

All shocks corroded.

Front tyres worn on inner edges.

Pass 1 Oct 2009 47,194 miles

All shock absorber bodies staring to corrode.

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

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

Pass 8 Oct 2008 42,864 miles

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

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

front indicators are fading.

front tyres wearing on edges.

rear coil springs are corroding.

Pass 27 Sep 2007 40,406 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2006 37,708 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 10 Oct 2006 37,708 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

P224 FTA is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 P224 FTA, 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 P224 FTA?

You can check the full history of P224 FTA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P224 FTA registered?

P224 FTA is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P224 FTA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P224 FTA shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P224 FTA 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 P224 FTA. 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.