CarVerify

Free Car Check

R56 ACA

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Aug 2027
Tests20 (15 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

156,730 mi
Last recorded156,730 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR56 ACA
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

15 pass 5 fail
Pass 8 Aug 2026 156,730 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2025 156,538 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2025 156,518 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2024 156,327 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2022 155,760 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2022 155,634 miles

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm damaged and seriously weakened as marked (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Brake hydraulic reservoir close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material x4 fronts and rear (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Coil spring corroded x2 (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Aug 2021 154,364 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear at rear floor area (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Fail 9 Aug 2021 154,361 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Rear Seat belt buckle missing centre (7.1.2 (d))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear at rear floor area (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Pass 19 Aug 2015 153,156 miles

Nearside Rear nail in the tyre

rear diff oil leak

Fail 18 Aug 2015 153,156 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)

Nearside Rear nail in the tyre

rear diff oil leak

Pass 22 Aug 2014 151,098 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 20 Aug 2014 151,084 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 7 Aug 2013 149,258 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2012 146,623 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2011 145,113 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2010 143,964 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2009 141,651 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2008 137,819 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 19 Jul 2007 132,133 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2006 123,974 miles

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

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

front no plate cracked

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

R56 ACA is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 R56 ACA, 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 R56 ACA?

You can check the full history of R56 ACA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R56 ACA registered?

R56 ACA is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R56 ACA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R56 ACA shows 20 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R56 ACA 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 R56 ACA. 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.