CarVerify

Free Car Check

R409 BDC

1998 BMW Z3

Blue Petrol 1895cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Sep 2026
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

82,075 mi
Last recorded82,075 miles
Recorded on3 Sep 2025
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

RegistrationR409 BDC
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,895cc

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 10 fail
Pass 3 Sep 2025 82,075 miles

Corrosion on underside

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Pass 5 Sep 2024 81,707 miles

Corrosion on underside

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

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Fail 3 Sep 2024 81,706 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Corrosion on underside

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

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Pass 24 Mar 2022 81,191 miles

Corrosion on underside

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Pass 29 Mar 2021 80,646 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive rear diff leaking (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Pass 1 Apr 2020 80,426 miles

front inner sill corners corroding

nearside front suspension arm bush deteriorating

power steering pipes corroding

rust staining around steering universal joint

Fail 1 Apr 2020 80,426 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

front inner sill corners corroding

nearside front suspension arm bush deteriorating

power steering pipes corroding

rust staining around steering universal joint

Pass 29 Mar 2019 80,000 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

offside front inner sill corroding

Pass 29 Mar 2018 79,391 miles

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

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) slightly corroded (2.3.2)

offside front sill edge corroding

Fail 23 Mar 2018 79,384 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) slightly corroded (2.3.2)

exhaust corroded

offside front sill edge corroding

Pass 24 Mar 2017 78,661 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

exhaust corroded

gearbox oil leak

offside and nearside front floor/sill edge corroding

power steering pipe corroding

Pass 9 Mar 2016 77,431 miles

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

exhaust corroded

nearside front inner wing corroding

offside front sill corroding

power steering pipes corroding

Pass 13 Mar 2015 75,086 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2014 75,835 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2013 70,808 miles

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 29 Jan 2013 70,808 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2012 64,311 miles

Alternator belt cracked

Both body sils corroded

Both rear wheel arches corroded

Centre exhaust mounting fractured

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

Nearside rear parking brake did not lock

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

Rear silencer corroded

Fail 25 Jan 2012 64,265 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Alternator belt cracked

Both body sils corroded

Both rear wheel arches corroded

Centre exhaust mounting fractured

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

Nearside rear parking brake did not lock

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

Rear silencer corroded

oil level on min

Pass 25 Jan 2011 56,954 miles

Both sils corroded

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

Nearside Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside rear parking brake did not lock

Rear wheel arches starting to corrode

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

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

offside front tyre inner sidewall starting to split

Pass 22 Jan 2010 47,331 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2010 47,331 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Front number plate cracked

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

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

Pass 29 Jan 2009 38,739 miles
Fail 28 Jan 2009 38,710 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Jan 2008 35,902 miles
Fail 23 Jan 2008 35,902 miles

Offside Front Brake hose seriously damaged (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 18 Jan 2007 32,577 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2007 32,577 miles

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

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

Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) excessively damaged (2.3.2)

Nearside Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

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

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

Pass 7 Nov 2005 29,220 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2005 29,179 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

R409 BDC is a 1998 BMW Z3 in Blue with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R409 BDC, 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 R409 BDC?

You can check the full history of R409 BDC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R409 BDC registered?

R409 BDC is a 1998 BMW Z3, first registered on 22 May 1998.

Is R409 BDC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R409 BDC shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R409 BDC 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 R409 BDC. 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.