CarVerify

Free Car Check

R23 DWL

1997 BMW M3

Green Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Jul 2027
Tests17 (10 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate58.8%

Mileage

97,958 mi
Last recorded97,958 miles
Recorded on8 Jul 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

RegistrationR23 DWL
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

10 pass 7 fail
Pass 8 Jul 2026 97,958 miles
Fail 8 Jul 2026 97,958 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 22 Apr 2024 97,424 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

minor under body corrosion

Pass 8 Aug 2014 96,787 miles

windscreen cracked outside swept area

Fail 8 Aug 2014 96,787 miles

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

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 20 Aug 2013 92,586 miles

Oil leak

plastic sill covers not allowing full inspection

Fail 19 Aug 2013 92,586 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Oil leak

plastic sill covers not allowing full inspection

Pass 23 Aug 2012 89,838 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 23 Aug 2012 89,838 miles

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

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 14 Jul 2011 85,479 miles

Nearside 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)

Oil leak

Pass 3 Sep 2010 82,070 miles

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

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

Pass 26 Aug 2009 78,074 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

O/S front tyre has cut on outter wall

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Fail 21 Aug 2009 78,071 miles

Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

O/S front tyre has cut on outter wall

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 Sep 2008 72,914 miles

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

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

cut in o/s/f tyre outer side wall!

o/s/r inner side light not working!

Fail 4 Sep 2008 72,914 miles

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

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

Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

cut in o/s/f tyre outer side wall!

o/s/r inner side light not working!

Pass 19 Feb 2007 63,764 miles
Fail 14 Feb 2007 63,755 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively 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

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

R23 DWL is a 1997 BMW M3 in Green with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.8%.

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 R23 DWL, 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 R23 DWL?

You can check the full history of R23 DWL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R23 DWL registered?

R23 DWL is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R23 DWL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R23 DWL shows 17 tests with a 58.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R23 DWL 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 R23 DWL. 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.