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P789 PLW

1996 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires4 Jul 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

147,120 mi
Last recorded147,120 miles
Recorded on5 Jul 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW M3100,666 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

RegistrationP789 PLW
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1996
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 5 Jul 2025 147,120 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 Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 17 Aug 2024 146,723 miles

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 11 Aug 2023 143,016 miles

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Inner Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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 Inner Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 4 Aug 2022 142,362 miles

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Inner Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 4 Aug 2022 142,362 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Inner Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Jul 2021 139,831 miles

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Rear 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))

Fail 27 Jul 2021 139,831 miles

Central Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 29 Jun 2020 135,796 miles

fuel pipe along n/s rusting

Pass 5 Jul 2019 130,581 miles

Advise crack in n/s/f lower corner of screen not in view

Advise front tyres wearing inner and outer edges

Advise slight white light at o/s/r indicator lamp

Pass 29 Jun 2018 126,718 miles
Fail 29 Jun 2018 126,718 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively Split (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively Split (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 12 Jun 2017 121,040 miles

Central Central fuel pipe coroded

Front Exhaust blow minor

Nearside Front Tyre Worn inner edge

Offside Front Tyre worn inner edge

Steering wheel cover coming away

Pass 6 May 2016 118,624 miles

Advise n/s/f driving lamp broken

Advise n/s/r tyre tread low

Advise water ingress into n/s/f headlamp

Fail 6 May 2016 118,624 miles

Advise n/s/f driving lamp broken

Advise n/s/r tyre tread low

Advise water ingress into n/s/f headlamp

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

Pass 1 Apr 2015 117,060 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2015 117,060 miles

Nearside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced (2.4.F.2)

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

Offside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced (2.4.F.2)

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 27 Jan 2014 114,453 miles

advise n/s/r inner side light n/w

advise rear indicators showing slight white light

Fail 23 Jan 2014 114,453 miles

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

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

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

advise n/s/r inner side light n/w

advise rear indicators showing slight white light

Pass 31 May 2012 104,329 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

THE OSF INDICATOR BULB C0LOUR IS POOR

THERE IS A NAIL IN THE NSR TYRE TREAD

Pass 13 Jun 2011 95,820 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2011 95,818 miles

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

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp sequence is incorrect (3.4.1d) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

BOTH FRONT TO REAR BRAKE PIPES ARE RUSTING NEAR THE FUEL TANK

OSF FLEXIBLE BRAKE PIPE IS STARTING TO PERISH

Pass 7 Jun 2010 88,651 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2010 88,651 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nail in offside rear tyre

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

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

oil level light flashing oil level ok

wipers poor

Pass 4 Mar 2009 82,352 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2008 78,283 miles

BOTH FRONT TO REAR METAL BRAKE PIPES ARE STARTING TO RUST.

Fail 9 Jan 2008 78,283 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear (8.1.2b)

BOTH FRONT TO REAR METAL BRAKE PIPES ARE STARTING TO RUST.

NS DOOR MIRROR GLASS MISSING

Pass 14 Sep 2006 72,729 miles

REAR METAL BRAKE PIPES STARTING TO RUST.

Fail 13 Sep 2006 72,727 miles

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

REAR METAL BRAKE PIPES STARTING TO RUST.

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

P789 PLW is a 1996 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1996 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 100,666 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 P789 PLW, 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 30 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 P789 PLW?

You can check the full history of P789 PLW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P789 PLW registered?

P789 PLW is a 1996 BMW M3, first registered on 2 September 1996.

Is P789 PLW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P789 PLW shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P789 PLW 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 P789 PLW. 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.