CarVerify

Free Car Check

R865 VWR

1997 BMW M3

Black Petrol 3201cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Apr 2027
Tests19 (16 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate84.2%

Mileage

83,310 mi
Last recorded83,310 miles
Recorded on23 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW M396,985 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

RegistrationR865 VWR
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

16 pass 3 fail
Pass 23 Apr 2026 83,310 miles

Offside Rear Inner All position lamps with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Apr 2025 82,934 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2024 82,852 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2023 82,471 miles
Fail 19 Apr 2023 82,455 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Engine has a misfire

Pass 2 May 2019 82,378 miles

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 May 2016 82,342 miles
Fail 8 Jun 2015 82,220 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Oil leak

Pass 8 Jun 2015 82,220 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Fail 12 May 2015 82,179 miles

Nearside coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 3 Jun 2014 82,071 miles
Pass 29 May 2013 81,805 miles

Both front seatbelt upper attachment eye outer casing is cracking.

Oil leak

Pass 23 May 2012 81,310 miles
Pass 18 May 2011 80,529 miles
Pass 20 May 2010 79,696 miles
Pass 15 May 2009 79,399 miles
Pass 23 May 2008 78,442 miles
Pass 31 May 2007 72,288 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2006 71,291 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

R865 VWR is a 1997 BMW M3 in Black with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.2%.

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 R865 VWR, 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 R865 VWR?

You can check the full history of R865 VWR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R865 VWR registered?

R865 VWR is a 1997 BMW M3, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R865 VWR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R865 VWR shows 19 tests with a 84.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R865 VWR 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 R865 VWR. 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.