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R838 VKL

1998 BMW Z3

Green Petrol 2793cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 May 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

136,709 mi
Last recorded136,709 miles
Recorded on8 May 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW Z376,857 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR838 VKL
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1998
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,793cc

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 8 fail
Pass 8 May 2026 136,709 miles

Central Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view slightly chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security corroded within 30cm of the rear subframe mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security corroded within 30cm of the rear subframe mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 2 May 2025 135,904 miles
Fail 1 May 2025 135,904 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 3 May 2024 134,917 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing on the sidewall, both N/S&O/S (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view windscreen chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working high level mounted (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 2 May 2024 134,917 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing on the sidewall, both N/S&O/S (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view windscreen chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working high level mounted (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Tail lamp slightly insecure

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 12 May 2023 133,101 miles

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view slightly chipped (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front brake hose slightly deteriorated

Fail 11 Apr 2023 133,100 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 7 Feb 2022 129,954 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2022 129,954 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Mar 2021 126,177 miles
Fail 11 Mar 2021 126,177 miles

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Mar 2020 121,389 miles

Central Rear Stop lamp(s) with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.3.1 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 15 Mar 2019 108,176 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 14 Mar 2019 108,176 miles

Engine mounting bracket damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (6.1.8 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Mar 2018 104,365 miles

EXHAUST DOWNPIPE SUPPORT BRACKET FRACTURED

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 3 May 2017 102,729 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Pass 16 May 2016 101,358 miles

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 28 Apr 2015 96,499 miles
Pass 6 May 2014 89,163 miles

slight corrosion on metal brake pipes

Pass 17 May 2013 80,522 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Fail 17 May 2013 80,522 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

Pass 14 Oct 2011 80,408 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2010 78,288 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2009
Fail 30 Jul 2009 77,463 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Front position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Pass 21 Jul 2008 74,577 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2007 70,823 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2006 66,950 miles

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

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R838 VKL is a 1998 BMW Z3 in Green with a 2,793cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 R838 VKL, 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 R838 VKL?

You can check the full history of R838 VKL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R838 VKL registered?

R838 VKL is a 1998 BMW Z3, first registered on 23 March 1998.

Is R838 VKL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R838 VKL shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R838 VKL 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 R838 VKL. 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.