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R157 AEV

1997 BMW M3

Purple Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 Jan 2025
Tests15 (12 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

187,628 mi
Last recorded187,628 miles
Recorded on15 Jan 2024
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR157 AEV
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourPurple
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

12 pass 3 fail
Pass 15 Jan 2024 187,628 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2022 186,332 miles

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

Pass 8 Jun 2019 185,766 miles

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

Pass 9 Jun 2018 184,282 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Fail 9 Jun 2018 184,282 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 15 May 2017 183,508 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

o/s front floor corroded

Pass 7 Apr 2016 180,997 miles

n/s and o/s rear tyres low and perished

Pass 14 Apr 2015 178,334 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 16 Apr 2014 172,882 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2013 168,714 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

rear brake pads low

Pass 10 Mar 2012 167,867 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

rear exhaust mount slightly deteriorated

slight play in offside steering rack arm inner joint

Fail 10 Mar 2012 167,867 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

rear exhaust mount slightly deteriorated

slight play in offside steering rack arm inner joint

Pass 14 Nov 2006 104,151 miles
Pass 13 May 2005 82,360 miles
Fail 12 May 2005 82,360 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)

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

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

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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R157 AEV is a 1997 BMW M3 in Purple with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 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 R157 AEV, 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 R157 AEV?

You can check the full history of R157 AEV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R157 AEV registered?

R157 AEV is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R157 AEV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R157 AEV shows 15 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R157 AEV 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 R157 AEV. 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.