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R197 FAN

1997 BMW M3

Black Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Nov 2013
Tests13 (7 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

142,544 mi
Last recorded142,544 miles
Recorded on14 Nov 2012
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

RegistrationR197 FAN
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlack
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 6 fail
Pass 14 Nov 2012 142,544 miles

Oil leak

Fail 12 Nov 2012 142,512 miles

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

Oil leak

Pass 14 Oct 2011 132,316 miles

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

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

Fail 10 Oct 2011 132,310 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Pass 29 Sep 2010 127,122 miles

both front tyres badly worn inner edges

engine oil leak

front flexi pipes perished

offside front inner rack joint has some play

rear metal brake pipes corroded

Fail 24 Sep 2010 127,060 miles

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

Nearside Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

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

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

both front tyres badly worn inner edges

brake fluid low

engine oil leak

front flexi pipes perished

offside front inner rack joint has some play

rear metal brake pipes corroded

Pass 16 Sep 2009 121,934 miles

both front tyres worn on edges

engine oil leak

play in offside front anti roll bar link

play in steering rack

Fail 9 Sep 2009 121,934 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

both front tyres worn on edges

engine oil leak

play in offside front anti roll bar link

play in steering rack

Pass 21 Aug 2008 115,998 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

rear number plate laminate peeling

slight condensation in offside front headlight

Pass 21 Mar 2007 106,030 miles

slight play in both front steering rack ends

Fail 21 Mar 2007 106,030 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

slight play in both front steering rack ends

Pass 16 Mar 2006 98,028 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2006 98,028 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.C3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.C3)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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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R197 FAN is a 1997 BMW M3 in Black with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

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 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 R197 FAN, 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 R197 FAN?

You can check the full history of R197 FAN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R197 FAN registered?

R197 FAN is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R197 FAN safe to buy?

The MOT history for R197 FAN shows 13 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R197 FAN 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 R197 FAN. 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.