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P989 MLE

1996 BMW M3

Silver Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Aug 2027
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

110,054 mi
Last recorded110,054 miles
Recorded on21 Jul 2026
Typical for 1996 BMW M3100,666 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

RegistrationP989 MLE
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1996
ColourSilver
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

19 pass 10 fail
Pass 21 Jul 2026 110,054 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2025 109,697 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2024 109,299 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2023 109,183 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2022 108,942 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2021 108,774 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2020 108,524 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2020 108,524 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 22 Mar 2019 108,273 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2018 108,169 miles
Fail 21 Mar 2018 108,168 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 17 Mar 2017 107,909 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2016 107,050 miles

NSF shock cover deteriorating.

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

Oil leak front off engine bay.

Fail 9 Mar 2016 107,037 miles

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

NSF shock cover deteriorating.

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

Oil leak front off engine bay.

Pass 17 Mar 2015 106,293 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Oil leak

Fail 12 Mar 2015 106,293 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Oil leak

Pass 2 Apr 2014 103,076 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2014 103,070 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Pass 22 Mar 2013 94,186 miles

floorpan starting to corrode

Fail 22 Mar 2013 94,184 miles

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

floorpan starting to corrode

Pass 7 Oct 2011 89,358 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2011 89,357 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 8 Apr 2010 86,748 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2010 86,730 miles

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

Pass 20 Aug 2008 84,411 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2008 84,408 miles

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

Pass 4 Jun 2007 82,181 miles

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 9 Jun 2006 73,353 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2006 73,353 miles

Nearside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

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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P989 MLE is a 1996 BMW M3 in Silver with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 P989 MLE, 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 P989 MLE?

You can check the full history of P989 MLE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P989 MLE registered?

P989 MLE is a 1996 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1996.

Is P989 MLE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P989 MLE shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P989 MLE 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 P989 MLE. 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.