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R351 VLY

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Oct 2026
Tests25 (21 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate84%

Mileage

128,012 mi
Last recorded128,012 miles
Recorded on8 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR351 VLY
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,201cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 8 Oct 2025 128,012 miles

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 6 Oct 2025 128,012 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 25 Oct 2024 127,201 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2023 126,688 miles
Pass 11 Nov 2022 125,990 miles

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Pass 25 Nov 2021 125,338 miles
Pass 10 Nov 2020 124,911 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2019 124,586 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2019 122,312 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2018 119,295 miles
Pass 4 Jan 2017 115,538 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2016 109,443 miles

Advise nearside front fog lamp not working

Fail 8 Jan 2016 109,443 miles

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

Advise nearside front fog lamp not working

Pass 8 Jan 2016 109,443 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2015 102,614 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 3 Jan 2014 94,567 miles
Pass 8 Jan 2013 85,984 miles

Advise offside rear brake pipe slight corrosion

Fail 8 Jan 2013 85,984 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Advise offside rear brake pipe slight corrosion

Pass 3 Jan 2012 79,912 miles

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

oil leak from diff.

Pass 17 Jan 2011 76,552 miles

Advise windscreen stone chipped

Pass 25 Jan 2010 75,302 miles

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

Oil leak

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

poly v belts cracked

Pass 22 Dec 2008 72,683 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2007 70,098 miles
Pass 5 Jan 2007 63,157 miles
Fail 29 Dec 2006 63,065 miles

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

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

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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R351 VLY is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R351 VLY, 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 R351 VLY?

You can check the full history of R351 VLY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R351 VLY registered?

R351 VLY is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 12 August 1997.

Is R351 VLY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R351 VLY shows 25 tests with a 84% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R351 VLY 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 R351 VLY. 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.