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S397 LOY

1998 BMW M3

Green Petrol 3201cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Apr 2027
Tests23 (21 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate91.3%

Mileage

87,503 mi
Last recorded87,503 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW M387,931 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS397 LOY
MakeBMW
ModelM3
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

21 pass 2 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2026 87,503 miles
Pass 20 May 2025 86,675 miles

Coil spring corroded Both rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 2 May 2024 86,197 miles
Pass 31 May 2023 85,866 miles

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

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

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive power steering (8.4.1 (a) (i))

coolant pipe to radiator going porous (risk of loosing coolant)

generic corrosion under vehicle

Fail 31 May 2023 85,866 miles

Hydraulic fluid leaking excessively power steering pipes/pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

coolant pipe to radiator going porous (risk of loosing coolant)

generic corrosion under vehicle

Pass 26 Apr 2022 81,891 miles

Front Windscreen wipers smearing slightly.

Oil leak, but not excessive Evidence of oil leak around underside of engine. Source unclear. (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Feb 2021 80,192 miles

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

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

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

front wiper smear

Pass 13 Feb 2020 79,119 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Feb 2019 77,811 miles

Front Number Plate Fading

Front To Rear Brake Pipes Corroded

Nearside Front Fog Lamp Damaged

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

Pass 6 Feb 2018 75,511 miles

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded FRONT TO REAR BOTH SIDES (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 22 Feb 2017 74,814 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2016 70,965 miles

Nearside Front tyre wearing on inner edge

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

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

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

oil leak

Pass 23 Feb 2015 66,211 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2014 63,804 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2013 63,095 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2012 60,094 miles
Pass 11 Feb 2011 52,762 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2010 50,417 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2010 50,417 miles

Centre Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 16 Feb 2009 45,425 miles

Oil leak

rear noplate dertiated

Pass 21 Feb 2008 38,960 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2007 31,091 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2006 25,534 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

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S397 LOY is a 1998 BMW M3 in Green with a 3,201cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 91.3%.

Across all 1998 BMW M3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.8% with a typical mileage of 87,931 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 S397 LOY, 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 28 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 S397 LOY?

You can check the full history of S397 LOY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S397 LOY registered?

S397 LOY is a 1998 BMW M3, first registered on 1 August 1998.

Is S397 LOY safe to buy?

The MOT history for S397 LOY shows 23 tests with a 91.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S397 LOY 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 S397 LOY. 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.