CarVerify

Free Car Check

R285 ORU

1998 BMW Z3

Red Petrol 2793cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jun 2027
Tests24 (21 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87.5%

Mileage

48,093 mi
Last recorded48,093 miles
Recorded on2 Jun 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW Z376,857 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

RegistrationR285 ORU
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 3 fail
Pass 2 Jun 2026 48,093 miles

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

Pass 2 Jun 2025 48,055 miles
Pass 13 May 2024 48,039 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2023 47,981 miles
Pass 10 May 2022 47,910 miles
Pass 20 May 2021 47,535 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2020 46,917 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2019 45,380 miles

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

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

Pass 25 May 2018 44,712 miles

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

Fail 24 May 2018 44,703 miles

Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))

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

Pass 24 May 2017 44,191 miles

Oil leak

Pass 24 May 2016 44,066 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2015 43,361 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2014 38,373 miles
Pass 14 May 2013 35,123 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2012 32,696 miles
Pass 31 May 2011 29,242 miles
Pass 22 May 2010 24,586 miles

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

Fail 22 May 2010 24,586 miles

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

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

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

Pass 21 May 2009 19,627 miles
Fail 2 May 2008 13,501 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

no supplying dealer post code on number plates

side light bulbs in headlights not working,but running lights fitted in front bumper.

Pass 2 May 2008 13,501 miles

no supplying dealer post code on number plates

side light bulbs in headlights not working,but running lights fitted in front bumper.

Pass 23 May 2007 7,928 miles
Pass 10 May 2006 7,655 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

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

R285 ORU is a 1998 BMW Z3 in Red with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87.5%.

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 R285 ORU, 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 R285 ORU?

You can check the full history of R285 ORU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R285 ORU registered?

R285 ORU is a 1998 BMW Z3, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R285 ORU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R285 ORU shows 24 tests with a 87.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R285 ORU 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 R285 ORU. 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.