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R165 BLF

1997 BMW M3

Purple Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Jun 2027
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

146,100 mi
Last recorded146,100 miles
Recorded on22 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR165 BLF
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 22 Jun 2026 146,100 miles

REAR SEATS REMOVED

UNDERBODY COVERED IN UNDERSEAL

Pass 1 May 2025 146,000 miles

rear seat and belts missing

underside of car covered in underseal

washers not working very well on nearside

Fail 30 Apr 2025 146,000 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

rear seat and belts missing

underside of car covered in underseal

washers not working very well on nearside

Pass 1 Dec 2023 144,143 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre on 2mm

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

no rear seats fitted at time of test

Fail 28 Nov 2023 144,143 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Tyre on 2mm

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

no rear seats fitted at time of test

Pass 20 Dec 2022 143,194 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

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

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

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

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

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

both rear wheel arches corroded

extended wheel bolts fitted - wheels secure

Pass 20 Oct 2021 141,477 miles

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

Nearside Rear Fuel hose deteriorated slightly corroded (6.1.3 (c) (ii))

Fail 15 Oct 2021 141,477 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible (4.1.4 (c))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Fuel hose deteriorated slightly corroded (6.1.3 (c) (ii))

Pass 24 Oct 2020 141,345 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2019 140,095 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2019 140,095 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 25 Apr 2018 137,933 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2017 136,122 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2016 132,804 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2015 129,020 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Apr 2014 123,683 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 8 Apr 2014 123,682 miles

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

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

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 9 Apr 2013 120,158 miles
Pass 17 May 2012 116,250 miles

Oil leak

Pass 27 Apr 2011 110,173 miles

Oil leak

Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 20 Apr 2010 105,436 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2010 105,434 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Nearside Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Power steering pump leaking from a failed joint (2.3.3b)

Pass 20 Apr 2009 99,398 miles

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

Nearside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Oil leak

Rear Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Apr 2009 99,388 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Front front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

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

Nearside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Oil leak

Rear Trailing arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 28 Apr 2008 93,946 miles

Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 13 Apr 2007 88,857 miles

Oil leak

Pass 19 Apr 2006 83,165 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

oil leak

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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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.

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R165 BLF is a 1997 BMW M3 in Purple with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 R165 BLF, 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 R165 BLF?

You can check the full history of R165 BLF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R165 BLF registered?

R165 BLF is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R165 BLF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R165 BLF shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R165 BLF 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 R165 BLF. 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.