CarVerify

Free Car Check

R173 CGF

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Apr 2027
Tests21 (15 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

95,519 mi
Last recorded95,519 miles
Recorded on23 Apr 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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR173 CGF
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
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

15 pass 6 fail
Pass 23 Apr 2026 95,519 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Inner Sill corroded and holed not with in prescribed area

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

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

Pass 7 Apr 2025 95,028 miles
Pass 21 Dec 2023 94,907 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and perished outer sidewall (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge and perished outer sidewall (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 28 Nov 2022 94,855 miles

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both rear, cracked outer sidewalls, damage from arch rubbing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 17 Nov 2022 94,738 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both rear, cracked outer sidewalls, damage from arch rubbing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 24 Nov 2021 94,363 miles

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

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

Offside Rear 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))

Pass 24 Nov 2020 93,727 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 28 Aug 2019 93,159 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2018 92,452 miles

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

Pass 11 Apr 2017 91,894 miles

(rear) main front to rear fuel lines corroded

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

Nearside Front tyre badly worn

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

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

Offside Front tyre badly worn

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

crack in top of n/s of windscreen

non standard sized number plates fitted front & rear

oil leak in engine bay

suspect leak @ exhaust manifold

Fail 31 Mar 2017 91,893 miles

Driver's airbag missing (5.4.1)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

(rear) main front to rear fuel lines corroded

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

Nearside Front tyre badly worn

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

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

Offside Front tyre badly worn

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

non standard sized number plates fitted front & rear

oil leak in engine bay

suspect leak @ exhaust manifold

Pass 12 Jan 2016 91,009 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Inner steering arm joint has slight play

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

Fail 12 Jan 2016 91,009 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped @ fuel tank (3.6.B.1)

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

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

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

Offside Front Inner steering arm joint has slight play

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

Pass 13 Jan 2015 90,515 miles
Fail 12 Jan 2015 90,515 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 7 Sep 2010 88,950 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2010 88,950 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

N/S and O/S Front discs pitted and scored to exces(inside faces)

Pass 20 Mar 2009 86,094 miles

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

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

Fail 20 Mar 2009 86,094 miles

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

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

Offside Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

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

steering rack damp

Pass 6 May 2008 80,985 miles

Clutch bite low, possible fluid leak

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

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

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

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

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Power steering pump has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 31 May 2007 77,246 miles

Oil leak

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R173 CGF is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 R173 CGF, 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 R173 CGF?

You can check the full history of R173 CGF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R173 CGF registered?

R173 CGF is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R173 CGF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R173 CGF shows 21 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R173 CGF 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 R173 CGF. 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.