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R181 MSA

1997 BMW M3

Purple Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Jan 2014
Tests9 (7 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

116,338 mi
Last recorded116,338 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR181 MSA
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

7 pass 2 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2013 116,338 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Jan 2012 109,258 miles
Pass 14 Jan 2011 103,742 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 10 Jul 2010 101,814 miles

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

Oil leak

Fail 12 Jun 2010 101,701 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

Oil leak

Pass 1 Jun 2009 98,713 miles
Pass 28 May 2008 85,646 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 May 2007 77,445 miles
Fail 24 May 2007 77,445 miles

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

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Rear 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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R181 MSA is a 1997 BMW M3 in Purple with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 R181 MSA, 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 R181 MSA?

You can check the full history of R181 MSA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R181 MSA registered?

R181 MSA is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 21 November 1997.

Is R181 MSA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R181 MSA shows 9 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R181 MSA 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 R181 MSA. 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.