CarVerify

Free Car Check

R254 MNR

1997 BMW Z3

Black Petrol 2793cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Jun 2026
Tests26 (19 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate73.1%

Mileage

122,163 mi
Last recorded122,163 miles
Recorded on27 Jun 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR254 MNR
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,793cc
View full BMW Z3 reliability data

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

19 pass 7 fail
Pass 27 Jun 2025 122,163 miles
Fail 14 Jun 2025 122,138 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 17 Jun 2024 121,577 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

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

Pass 8 Jun 2023 120,948 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 22 May 2023 120,924 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear Bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

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

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 27 Sep 2021 120,777 miles

Nearside Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 11 Sep 2020 120,264 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Oct 2019 119,692 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Fail 21 Oct 2019 119,692 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak centre pipe (8.2.1.1 (b))

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 23 Oct 2018 118,026 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre pipe (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated both (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Fail 10 Oct 2018 117,989 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Power steering component leaking from steering rack area (2.1.5 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre pipe (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated both (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 13 Oct 2017 114,322 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Fail 13 Oct 2017 114,320 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)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside rear parking (secondary) brake grabbing severely (3.7.B.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 27 Sep 2016 112,980 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2016 112,946 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect deteriorated (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% high level (1.2.1b)

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

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

items not tested; nearside front wheel bearing to to seized brake

vehicle struggled to pass emissions

Pass 14 Oct 2015 102,572 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated starting to crack (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated starting to crack (3.6.B.4d)

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

Pass 9 Oct 2014 94,112 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside front, lower suspension arm, rear bush and lower ball joint have slight play

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Fail 2 Oct 2014 93,116 miles

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 Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 11 Sep 2013 84,423 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Pass 10 Sep 2012 78,927 miles
Pass 6 Sep 2011 71,365 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2010 64,570 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2009 56,328 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2008 47,989 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2007 40,319 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2006 36,220 miles

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

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

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

R254 MNR is a 1997 BMW Z3 in Black with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.1%.

Across all 1997 BMW Z3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 83,222 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 R254 MNR, 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 29 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 R254 MNR?

You can check the full history of R254 MNR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R254 MNR registered?

R254 MNR is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 29 August 1997.

Is R254 MNR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R254 MNR shows 26 tests with a 73.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R254 MNR 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 R254 MNR. 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.