CarVerify

Free Car Check

R491 VCF

1998 BMW M3

Yellow Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Sep 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

80,342 mi
Last recorded80,342 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2025
Typical for 1998 BMW M387,931 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

RegistrationR491 VCF
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1998
ColourYellow
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 9 Sep 2025 80,342 miles

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

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

Fail 12 Aug 2025 80,300 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Engine running rough

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

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

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

Pass 12 Aug 2024 79,768 miles

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

Rear differential leaking

Fail 12 Aug 2024 79,768 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Rear differential leaking

Pass 30 Aug 2023 79,196 miles

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage p/steering pipe from steering rack to reservoir (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 12 Aug 2022 78,471 miles

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

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

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

Fail 12 Aug 2022 78,471 miles

Nearside Front All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Nearside Rear All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside Rear All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Pass 24 Aug 2021 77,865 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2020 77,144 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2019 75,897 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2019 75,841 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively twisted (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 29 Aug 2018 74,026 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2018 74,026 miles

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Fail 24 Apr 2018 73,824 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

front parking (secondary) brakes imbalanced 32% (3.7.B.6b)

front number plate small cracks/ rear number plate starting to fade

nearside front foglamp lens cracked

offside rear metal brake pipe starting to rust

power steering reservoir and pipes/ hoses slightly damp

rear brake hoses ferrules starting to rust

rear diff slightly damp

rear suspension trailing arms front bushes starting to crack/ perish

slight play in steering rack

Pass 24 Apr 2017 72,895 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2016 71,418 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 25 Apr 2016 71,418 miles

Nearside Front Steering system fouling inner wheel arch (2.2.D.2a)

Nearside Rear front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 29 Apr 2015 70,105 miles

engin oil leak rear dif oil leak

Fail 24 Apr 2015 70,099 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) DANGEROUS

engin oil leak rear dif oil leak

Pass 7 Apr 2014 66,842 miles

slight differential oil leak

slight engine oil leak

slight gearbox oil leak

Pass 27 Apr 2013 64,459 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2012 63,287 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2011 62,121 miles

air bag light stays on

front lower suspension wishbones inner rear bushes starting to perish

front tyre treads inner edges starting to wear

nearside front foglamp glass cracked

offside of steering rack slight play

rear brakes slight imbalance

rear diff slightly damp

rear lower suspension trailing arms front bushes starting to split/ wear

slight oil leak

Fail 12 Apr 2011 62,121 miles

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

air bag light stays on

front lower suspension wishbones inner rear bushes starting to perish

front tyre treads inner edges starting to wear

nearside front foglamp glass cracked

offside of steering rack slight play

rear brakes slight imbalance

rear diff slightly damp

rear lower suspension trailing arms front bushes starting to split/ wear

slight oil leak

Pass 22 Apr 2010 60,167 miles

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

Pass 8 Apr 2009 57,504 miles
Fail 6 Apr 2009 57,504 miles

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

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 Apr 2008 54,647 miles

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

Pass 9 Feb 2007 51,828 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2007 51,828 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Feb 2006 47,570 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

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

R491 VCF is a 1998 BMW M3 in Yellow with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

Across all 1998 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.8% with a typical mileage of 87,931 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 R491 VCF, 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 28 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 R491 VCF?

You can check the full history of R491 VCF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R491 VCF registered?

R491 VCF is a 1998 BMW M3, first registered on 2 January 1998.

Is R491 VCF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R491 VCF shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R491 VCF 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 R491 VCF. 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.