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SL51 DCF

2001 BMW 3 Series

Silver Petrol 2997cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Mar 2027
Tests35 (20 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

60,260 mi
Last recorded60,260 miles
Recorded on5 Mar 2026
Typical for 2001 BMW 3 Series95,548 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSL51 DCF
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year2001
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,997cc

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 15 fail
Pass 5 Mar 2026 60,260 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2026 60,258 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor pan (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 12 Feb 2026 60,173 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Front Undertray insecure (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired sill panel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired wheel arch/sill panel (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded to the extent that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected sill panel (5.3.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

offside sill shirting panel insecure

Pass 14 Feb 2025 58,079 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 30 Sep 2023 58,049 miles
Fail 29 Sep 2023 58,049 miles

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

Fail 1 Dec 2022 58,048 miles

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

Nearside Rear Inner Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2021 56,025 miles

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

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

Fail 4 Nov 2021 56,020 miles

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

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

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

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

Pass 30 Oct 2020 54,529 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Apr 2019 52,637 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2019 52,637 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively both (3.4 (b) (ii))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 30 Apr 2018 50,176 miles

Both rear dampers are ineffective, no damping

Pass 5 May 2017 48,760 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2016 47,886 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi hose (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point (2.4.A.3)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp does not illuminate (5.4.2)

nearside lower section of windscreen has damage

Fail 30 Nov 2016 47,661 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner sdewall (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner sidewall (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner sidewall (4.1.D.1b)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to flexi hose (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point (2.4.A.3)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp does not illuminate (5.4.2)

nearside lower section of windscreen has damage

Pass 20 Nov 2015 45,802 miles

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

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

Fail 17 Nov 2015 45,802 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

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

Pass 8 Nov 2014 44,027 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 8 Nov 2014 44,027 miles

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

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

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

Oil leak

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 3 Dec 2013 41,375 miles

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Fail 3 Dec 2013 41,375 miles

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

Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Pass 16 Nov 2012

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 16 Nov 2012 38,951 miles

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

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

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 4 Dec 2011 36,429 miles

nearside washer inoperitive

Fail 26 Nov 2011 36,425 miles

Nearside rear brake juddering severely (3.7.A.5b)

Offside Front Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

nearside washer inoperitive

rear brake discs corroded and worn

Pass 10 Nov 2010 33,705 miles
Fail 8 Nov 2010 33,705 miles

Centre Front Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

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

Rear brake discs corroded

Pass 27 Nov 2009 27,289 miles
Pass 3 Dec 2008 22,660 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2008 22,660 miles

Nearside Rear coil spring cracked (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Rear coil spring cracked (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

Pass 21 Nov 2007 17,556 miles
Fail 20 Nov 2007 17,556 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 14 Nov 2006 15,734 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2005 13,524 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 3 Series?

Based on 12,840,406 MOT tests across 1,004,285 vehicles.

75.1%
Pass Rate
6,672
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,004,285
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 485,475
Brake pipe excessively corroded 323,327
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 253,205
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 185,099
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 182,360
Full BMW 3 Series reliability report

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SL51 DCF is a 2001 BMW 3 Series in Silver with a 2,997cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 35 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 2001 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.8% with a typical mileage of 95,548 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 3 Series fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 485,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SL51 DCF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 3 Series typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 25 years old, this BMW 3 Series is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SL51 DCF?

You can check the full history of SL51 DCF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SL51 DCF registered?

SL51 DCF is a 2001 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 4 December 2001.

Is SL51 DCF safe to buy?

The MOT history for SL51 DCF shows 35 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SL51 DCF 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 SL51 DCF. 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.