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P490 LBP

1997 BMW M3

Purple Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 May 2027
Tests19 (14 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate73.7%

Mileage

138,678 mi
Last recorded138,678 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP490 LBP
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourPurple
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

14 pass 5 fail
Pass 27 May 2026 138,678 miles

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

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 15 May 2025 138,416 miles

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

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Pass 29 Jun 2023 138,185 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 23 May 2022 138,010 miles

Nearside Front Inner Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 23 May 2022 138,010 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Nearside Front Inner Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2019 138,005 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Jun 2017 137,441 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 15 Jun 2017 137,441 miles

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 9 Sep 2013 137,115 miles

small stone chips in windscreen

front anti-roll bar corroded

gearbox oil leak

outer sill covers fitted

power steering pipes leaking

rear anti-roll bar corroded

rear diff leaking

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

front anti-roll bar bushes deteriorated

Fail 3 Sep 2013 137,115 miles

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

front anti-roll bar bushes deteriorated

front anti-roll bar corroded

gearbox oil leak

outer sill covers fitted

power steering pipes leaking

rear anti-roll bar corroded

rear diff leaking

small stone chips in windscreen

underbody corrosion to offside front floor and inner sill

Pass 18 Sep 2012 133,036 miles

Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

offside rear shock absorber dust cover adrift

slight play in the offside and nearside rear suspension lower bushes

windscreen chipped

Pass 16 May 2011 128,242 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Nearside Rear Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

both front tyres worn on inner edge, nearside front outer side wall kerbed

offside rear bump stop worn

slight play in steering rack

Pass 11 May 2010 124,516 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

offside inner sidelight not working

Fail 7 May 2010 124,476 miles

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

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Oil leak

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

offside inner sidelight not working

Pass 1 May 2009 118,319 miles

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

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

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

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

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

lower engine cover fitted

outer sill mouldings fitted

windscreen stone chipped

Pass 29 Apr 2008 112,894 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2007 104,340 miles

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2006 93,626 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2006 93,626 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

both near side rear and off side rear riged brake pipes rusty

near side rear tyre on 3.5mm

off side rear tyre on 3.5-4mm

one of the high level brake light bulbs not working

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

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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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P490 LBP is a 1997 BMW M3 in Purple with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.7%.

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 P490 LBP, 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 P490 LBP?

You can check the full history of P490 LBP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P490 LBP registered?

P490 LBP is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 17 January 1997.

Is P490 LBP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P490 LBP shows 19 tests with a 73.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P490 LBP 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 P490 LBP. 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.