CarVerify

Free Car Check

P525 XHB

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Mar 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

106,541 mi
Last recorded106,541 miles
Recorded on20 Feb 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

RegistrationP525 XHB
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 8 fail
Pass 20 Feb 2026 106,541 miles

Both front lower wings are corroded

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

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Mar 2025 106,418 miles

Both front lower wings/inner sills are corroded but not load bearing

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Mar 2024 105,490 miles

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

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

Fail 4 Mar 2024 105,490 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 15 Dec 2022 105,026 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Off side rear jacking point is corroded

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

Pass 19 Nov 2021 104,378 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Fail 3 Nov 2021 104,377 miles

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Both front shock absorbers are corroded

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 26 Oct 2020 103,347 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 15 Apr 2019 99,946 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Apr 2018 96,462 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Near side rear tyre is wearing on the inner edge

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

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

Unable to fully inspect brake pipes due to a covering of grease

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

Fail 29 Mar 2018 96,312 miles

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Near side rear tyre is wearing on the inner edge

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

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

Unable to fully inspect brake pipes due to a covering of grease

Pass 6 Apr 2017 88,511 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Fail 6 Apr 2017 88,511 miles

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2016 80,790 miles

Brake pipes are all covered in grease

Engine covers and undertrays fitted not allowing full inspection of all components.

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Fail 8 Mar 2016 80,242 miles

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Engine covers and undertrays fitted not allowing full inspection of all components.

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

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

Unable to fully inspect all brake pipes due to being covered in grease.

Pass 26 Mar 2015 73,617 miles

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

unable to fully inspect all brake pipes due to being covered in grease

Fail 10 Mar 2015 73,490 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

unable to fully inspect all brake pipes due to being greased

Pass 7 Mar 2014 70,123 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

all brake pipes are covered in grease

Pass 26 Mar 2013 65,355 miles

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Unable to check some metal brake pipes due to being covered in grease.

Pass 2 Mar 2012 62,287 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2011 59,010 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 12 Mar 2010 55,943 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2009 53,290 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2008 50,574 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2008 50,574 miles

Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 26 Feb 2007 47,352 miles

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 10 Mar 2006 44,559 miles

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Fail 10 Mar 2006 44,559 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

P525 XHB is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 P525 XHB, 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 P525 XHB?

You can check the full history of P525 XHB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P525 XHB registered?

P525 XHB is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 29 March 1997.

Is P525 XHB safe to buy?

The MOT history for P525 XHB shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P525 XHB 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 P525 XHB. 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.