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R229 VCF

1998 BMW Z3

Red Petrol 2793cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Sep 2026
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

103,493 mi
Last recorded103,493 miles
Recorded on24 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW Z376,857 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

RegistrationR229 VCF
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,793cc

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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Aug 2025 103,493 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2024 103,072 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2023 102,892 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2022 102,721 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2021 101,806 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2021 101,788 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Outer (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Outer (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect Light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect Misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 2 Mar 2021 100,327 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 2 Mar 2021 100,327 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 6 Mar 2020 99,346 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 5 Mar 2020 99,340 miles

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

sill covers fitted

Pass 28 Feb 2019 95,377 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 28 Feb 2019 95,377 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Pass 23 Feb 2018 91,665 miles

slight play in both seat runners

Fail 23 Feb 2018 91,665 miles

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

slight play in both seat runners

Pass 2 Mar 2017 87,969 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Pass 12 Feb 2016 83,980 miles

Offside Rear tyre has puncture

Fail 11 Feb 2016 83,967 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 carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Offside Rear tyre has puncture

Pass 4 Mar 2015 80,563 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2014 77,068 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 25 Feb 2013 72,477 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2012 70,488 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2012 70,488 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Pass 1 Feb 2011 68,426 miles

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

Pass 23 Feb 2010 67,336 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2009 62,266 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2008 58,354 miles
Pass 15 Feb 2007 53,930 miles

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

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

Fail 15 Feb 2007 53,930 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 1 Feb 2006 49,907 miles

How Reliable is the BMW Z3?

Based on 498,063 MOT tests across 26,000 vehicles.

73.2%
Pass Rate
2,128
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
26,000
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 17,103
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,600
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 10,064
position lamp(s) not working 9,305
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 7,992
Full BMW Z3 reliability report

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R229 VCF is a 1998 BMW Z3 in Red with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

Across all 1998 BMW Z3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.1% with a typical mileage of 76,857 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW Z3 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 17,103 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R229 VCF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW Z3 typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 28 years old, this BMW Z3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R229 VCF?

You can check the full history of R229 VCF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R229 VCF registered?

R229 VCF is a 1998 BMW Z3, first registered on 14 January 1998.

Is R229 VCF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R229 VCF shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R229 VCF 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 R229 VCF. 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.