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P987 JBL

1997 BMW M3

Black Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Aug 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

100,112 mi
Last recorded100,112 miles
Recorded on6 Aug 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP987 JBL
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 6 Aug 2026 100,112 miles

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

Pass 7 Aug 2025 99,483 miles

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

Fail 7 Aug 2025 99,483 miles

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 17 Jun 2024 98,315 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Surface corrosion under vehicle.

Fail 30 May 2024 98,299 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 1 May 2019 98,262 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 11 Apr 2019 98,262 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Fail 22 Jan 2019 98,223 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced around jacking point (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced around front jacking point (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Pass 25 Jan 2018 93,837 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive wheel arch (5.2.6)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

centre exhaust mounting broken

Pass 3 Jan 2017 92,228 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush rear bush starting to split (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush rear bush starting to split (2.5.A.1c)

Pass 30 Jan 2016 90,368 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly corrosion

nail in nearside front tyre

noise from o/s/r coil spring when jacking

Fail 15 Jan 2016 90,365 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp inoperative (3.6.G.2)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

corrosion offside rear brake disc

nail in nearside front tyre

Pass 14 Jan 2015 87,348 miles
Fail 10 Jan 2015 87,178 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 9 Jan 2014 84,100 miles

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

Pass 22 Jan 2013 78,953 miles

N/S/F tyre slow puncture

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

Offside Front Valve stem slightly damaged (4.1.D.1e)

slight oil leak

slight play in O/S/R wheel

small crack in front number plate

Pass 12 Jan 2012 74,127 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2011 68,977 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2011 68,977 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 26 Jan 2010 63,653 miles
Pass 8 Jan 2009 57,822 miles

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

Pass 10 Jan 2008 52,250 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Pass 7 Nov 2006 47,944 miles
Fail 25 Oct 2006 47,944 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Jan 2006 43,578 miles

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

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

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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P987 JBL is a 1997 BMW M3 in Black with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 P987 JBL, 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 P987 JBL?

You can check the full history of P987 JBL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P987 JBL registered?

P987 JBL is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P987 JBL safe to buy?

The MOT history for P987 JBL shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P987 JBL 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 P987 JBL. 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.