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R578 ABK

1997 BMW M3

Blue Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Apr 2027
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

116,459 mi
Last recorded116,459 miles
Recorded on14 Apr 2026
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

RegistrationR578 ABK
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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 14 Apr 2026 116,459 miles

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

Fail 13 Apr 2026 116,458 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

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

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

Pass 11 Apr 2025 115,864 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2025 115,860 miles

Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength by jacking point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 10 Apr 2024 115,209 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2023 114,682 miles
Pass 15 Feb 2022 111,966 miles

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

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

Rear Service brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. 27% (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Fail 3 Feb 2022 111,966 miles

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle by more than 50% 55% (1.2.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 2 May 2019 111,731 miles
Pass 4 May 2018 110,303 miles
Fail 1 May 2018 110,286 miles

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 13 Oct 2016 109,646 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2015 107,787 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2014 106,139 miles
Fail 15 Oct 2014 106,132 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 3 Oct 2013 102,779 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2012 99,019 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 8 Oct 2011 91,023 miles

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Oil leak

Fail 29 Sep 2011 90,966 miles

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

brake fluid level between min/max

engine oil leak

n/s/f and o/s/f brake hoses starting to perish

Pass 7 Aug 2010 84,165 miles

Offside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Oil leak

Pass 7 Aug 2009 77,254 miles

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

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

Fail 1 Aug 2009 77,248 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

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

Fail 4 Aug 2008 68,809 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 4 Aug 2008 68,809 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 6 Aug 2007 64,091 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2007 64,090 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 27 Jul 2006 56,609 miles
Fail 26 Jul 2006 56,609 miles

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

nearside rear has two nails in it

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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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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R578 ABK is a 1997 BMW M3 in Blue with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

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 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 R578 ABK, 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 R578 ABK?

You can check the full history of R578 ABK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R578 ABK registered?

R578 ABK is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 28 August 1997.

Is R578 ABK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R578 ABK shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R578 ABK 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 R578 ABK. 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.