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97 BRU

1990 BMW 3 Series

Red Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 May 2027
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

126,967 mi
Last recorded126,967 miles
Recorded on17 Apr 2026
Typical for 1990 BMW 3 Series120,696 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

Registration97 BRU
MakeBMW
Model3 Series
Year1990
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

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

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 17 Apr 2026 126,967 miles
Pass 13 May 2025 126,436 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2024 125,672 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2024 125,669 miles

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

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 25 Jan 2023 124,964 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2023 124,961 miles

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 11 Feb 2022 124,058 miles
Fail 13 Jan 2022 124,034 miles

Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength jacking point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jan 2021 123,446 miles
Fail 8 Jan 2021 123,444 miles

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

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

Pass 31 Jul 2019 122,213 miles
Pass 13 Nov 2017 119,904 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 27 Oct 2016 114,045 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

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

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

Offside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Fail 24 Oct 2016 114,027 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported x2 (7.1.1)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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

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

Nearside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

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

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

Offside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 18 Nov 2015 110,418 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2015 110,417 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 17 Jul 2014 108,105 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2013 104,621 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2012 103,369 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 15 Aug 2011 99,671 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2010 95,948 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2009 93,722 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2008 91,468 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2007 90,886 miles

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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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97 BRU is a 1990 BMW 3 Series in Red with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1990 BMW 3 Series models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.0% with a typical mileage of 120,696 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 97 BRU, 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 36 years old, this BMW 3 Series is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 97 BRU?

You can check the full history of 97 BRU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 97 BRU registered?

97 BRU is a 1990 BMW 3 Series, first registered on 22 May 1990.

Is 97 BRU safe to buy?

The MOT history for 97 BRU shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 97 BRU 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 97 BRU. 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.