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R309 BFS

1997 BMW Z3

Blue Petrol 1895cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Apr 2027
Tests22 (17 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate77.3%

Mileage

55,024 mi
Last recorded55,024 miles
Recorded on9 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW Z383,222 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR309 BFS
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,895cc
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

17 pass 5 fail
Pass 9 Apr 2026 55,024 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 17 Apr 2025 51,921 miles

Front suspension components corroded

Rear suspension components corroded

Pass 6 Sep 2024 51,227 miles

Central Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Central Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All brake pipes covered with underseal (1.1.11 (c))

Central Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Under body showing signs of corrosion (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Pipe corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outer sill covers corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Fuel tank slightly loose Securing strap corroded/broken (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing outer casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outer sill covers corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Fuel tank strap badly corroded

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing outer casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 3 Sep 2024 51,224 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim unable to be tested Lens defective (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp aim unable to be tested Lens defective (4.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Central Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Central Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All brake pipes covered with underseal (1.1.11 (c))

Central Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Under body showing signs of corrosion (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Pipe corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outer sill covers corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Fuel tank slightly loose Securing strap corroded/broken (6.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing outer casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Outer sill covers corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Rear Fuel tank strap badly corroded

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing outer casing corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 21 Sep 2023 50,159 miles

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

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both sides wearing close to legal limit (5.2.3 (e))

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

Underside of vehicle has surface corrosion to rear arms, sills and rear subframe

Pass 11 Oct 2022 48,079 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both rear arms (5.3.3 (b) (i))

underside of vehicle showing signs of corrosion

Pass 28 Oct 2021 43,986 miles

centre upper stop light not working

near side rear wheel binding ,poss differencial

Fail 26 Oct 2021 43,986 miles

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

centre upper stop light not working

near side rear wheel binding ,poss differencial

Pass 21 Oct 2020 41,541 miles

ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CORRODED

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Oct 2019 38,649 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Suspension components corroded

Pass 25 Oct 2018 33,396 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Underside of vehicle slightly corroded

Pass 25 Oct 2017 30,160 miles

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

Pass 17 Oct 2016 27,319 miles

Front Suspension components corroded both sides

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

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

Undertrays fitted

Pass 16 Oct 2015 23,382 miles

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

Fail 15 Oct 2015 23,382 miles

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

Headlamp aim too low Both (1.8)

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

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

Pass 14 Oct 2014 19,752 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 25 Oct 2013 14,119 miles

Centre Stop lamp has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.2.1b)

Pass 25 Oct 2013 14,119 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2008 13,147 miles

Nearside Front Lower Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Lower Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 3 Jun 2008 13,112 miles

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

Front Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Front Lower Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front Lower Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 1 Jun 2007 8,360 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2005 7,587 miles

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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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.

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R309 BFS is a 1997 BMW Z3 in Blue with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.3%.

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 R309 BFS, 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 R309 BFS?

You can check the full history of R309 BFS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R309 BFS registered?

R309 BFS is a 1997 BMW Z3, first registered on 25 September 1997.

Is R309 BFS safe to buy?

The MOT history for R309 BFS shows 22 tests with a 77.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R309 BFS 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 R309 BFS. 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.