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R917 MBU

1998 BMW Z3

Silver Petrol 1895cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Apr 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

104,500 mi
Last recorded104,500 miles
Recorded on17 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW Z376,857 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

RegistrationR917 MBU
MakeBMW
ModelZ3
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,895cc

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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 17 Apr 2026 104,500 miles

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

Fail 7 Apr 2026 104,470 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage insecurely attached (5.3.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 2 Jul 2024 100,602 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2023 95,954 miles
Fail 18 May 2023 95,953 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))

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 26 Jan 2022 92,158 miles

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

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

Pass 27 Jan 2021 90,212 miles

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

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

Pass 27 Jun 2019 87,510 miles

Central Exhaust mounting defective Gearbox bracket (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 25 Apr 2019 87,503 miles

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

Pass 16 Apr 2018 86,558 miles

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

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

rear exhaust box corroded

under-trays fitted obscuring some components

Fail 11 Apr 2018 86,544 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

rear exhaust box corroded

under-trays fitted obscuring some components

Pass 29 Apr 2017 85,462 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2016 82,934 miles

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

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

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

Pass 11 Mar 2015 80,947 miles

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

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

Pass 11 Mar 2014 78,886 miles

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

some corrosion to offside & nearside rear brake pipes

Pass 6 Mar 2013 76,892 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2012 74,041 miles

Nail in nearside front tyre

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

Pass 10 Mar 2011 69,462 miles
Pass 8 Mar 2010 65,032 miles
Fail 4 Mar 2010 65,013 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 14 Mar 2009 59,193 miles
Fail 11 Mar 2009 59,120 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 carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Pass 11 Mar 2008 53,819 miles
Fail 11 Mar 2008 53,816 miles

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

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 12 Mar 2007 50,020 miles

exhaust baffles rattling

n/s/f tyre on 1.6mm

o/s/f tyre on 2mm

slight exhaust blow centre joint

Pass 15 Mar 2006 49,205 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2006 49,182 miles

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

Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

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

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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R917 MBU is a 1998 BMW Z3 in Silver with a 1,895cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

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 R917 MBU, 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 R917 MBU?

You can check the full history of R917 MBU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R917 MBU registered?

R917 MBU is a 1998 BMW Z3, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R917 MBU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R917 MBU shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R917 MBU 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 R917 MBU. 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.