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R281 USP

1997 BMW M3

Silver Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Mar 2015
Tests13 (9 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

82,864 mi
Last recorded82,864 miles
Recorded on10 Mar 2014
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR281 USP
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourSilver
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

9 pass 4 fail
Pass 10 Mar 2014 82,864 miles

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

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

front and rear suspention components corroded

nearside front inner wing corroded/holed

Fail 19 Feb 2014 82,859 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Offside Inner Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

front suspention components corroded

rear suspention components corroded

Pass 1 Mar 2013 81,994 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

excessive corrosion to off side front inner wing but outside of prescribed area

Fail 16 Feb 2013 81,990 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

excessive corrosion to off side front inner wing but outside of prescribed area

Pass 18 Feb 2012 80,130 miles

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 26 Feb 2011 77,654 miles
Fail 12 Feb 2011 77,641 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Pass 12 Feb 2010 72,715 miles
Fail 5 Feb 2010 72,713 miles

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

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 10 Jan 2009 67,832 miles

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

Pass 12 Jan 2008 62,906 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2007 58,846 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Jan 2006 53,887 miles

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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R281 USP is a 1997 BMW M3 in Silver with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

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 R281 USP, 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 R281 USP?

You can check the full history of R281 USP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R281 USP registered?

R281 USP is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R281 USP safe to buy?

The MOT history for R281 USP shows 13 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R281 USP 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 R281 USP. 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.