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P97 PLX

1996 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests26 (21 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80.8%

Mileage

134,514 mi
Last recorded134,514 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2026
Typical for 1996 BMW M3100,666 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP97 PLX
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

21 pass 5 fail
Pass 29 Apr 2026 134,514 miles

nearside front and offside front fog lamps damaged

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

corrosion to brakes , steering and suspension components

Pass 16 Apr 2025 133,684 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

corrosion on brakes , steering and suspension components

Pass 1 May 2024 133,106 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

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

corrosion on brakes , steering and suspension components

Fail 20 Mar 2024 133,090 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Power steering component components slightly misaligned (2.1.5 (e) (i))

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

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

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

condensation in offside headlamp

corrosion on brakes , steering and suspension components

Pass 31 Mar 2023 132,493 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule All 4 brake hose ferrules (front and rear) (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All 4 brake rigid pipes. Front and rear. (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Inner Brake hose slightly deteriorated Starting to crack. (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Starting to split. (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper The windscreen has a stone chip.

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

Offside Front Inner Power steering component has slight seepage from a component PAS rack rubber boot. (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 11 Feb 2022 132,041 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Pass 7 Dec 2020 131,212 miles

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

Pass 20 May 2019 130,474 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 May 2018 129,059 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2017 127,530 miles

some movement in both sides of steering rack

Pass 31 May 2016 125,047 miles

c/o is slow to drop

exhaust is rusty

lsc axle tapley brake test

wet test

Pass 26 May 2015 122,854 miles

battery is dead flat

exhaust is rusty

f/n/s jacking point is missing (rubber block)

lsd axle tapley brake test

n/s wiper is poor

Pass 2 Jun 2014 118,818 miles

LSD axle tapley brake test

both rear tyres perished

front discs worn

oil leak

steering rack worn

Pass 22 May 2013 114,680 miles

Nail in nearside front tyre

Oil leak

Pass 22 May 2012 111,615 miles

LSD axle tapley test

exhaust bracket damaged at gearbox

exhaust rusty

oil leak (slight)

oil light light on when cold and oil at min

steering rack worn (slight)

Pass 12 May 2011 105,486 miles

exhaust rusty

tapley test

Fail 12 May 2011 105,486 miles

Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

exhaust rusty

tapley test

Pass 26 May 2010 101,311 miles
Pass 28 May 2009 91,579 miles
Fail 18 May 2009 91,572 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Apr 2008 71,695 miles
Fail 29 May 2007 59,596 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

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 29 May 2007 59,596 miles

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 26 May 2006 38,196 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Aug 2005 33,704 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2005 33,693 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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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P97 PLX is a 1996 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80.8%.

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 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 P97 PLX, 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 P97 PLX?

You can check the full history of P97 PLX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P97 PLX registered?

P97 PLX is a 1996 BMW M3, first registered on 23 August 1996.

Is P97 PLX safe to buy?

The MOT history for P97 PLX shows 26 tests with a 80.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P97 PLX 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 P97 PLX. 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.