1998 BMW 3 Series 2.8L Petrol · R351 EKK
1998 BMW 3 Series (2.8L, petrol). First registered 01 Mar 1998. Recorded mileage 183,132 miles. MOT expired on 23 Jun 2025.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 23 Jun 2025
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 183,132 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
R351 EKK Key Findings
- 2 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 24/06/2024
- 183,132 miles recorded at latest MOT
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R351 EKK MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
2 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 BMW 3 Series (R351 EKK) between May 2023 and June 2024.
The record contains 2 passes and 0 failures.
No failures or advisories appear anywhere in the recorded tests, so the documented MOT record is relatively clean.
R351 EKK Mileage History
- 27/05/2023182,241 mi
- 24/06/2024183,132 mi+891 mi
Average of roughly 826 miles per year across 2 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
Estimate current market value
Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.
Known faults for BMW 3 Series (E36)
Our database tracks 5 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Similar Vehicles
Similar Vehicles Checked Recently
Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (R351 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as R351EKK.
KAWASAKI
ZX-6R
ROVER
MINI
MAZDA
MX-5
FIAT
PUNTO
MG
MGF
DAIHATSU
HIJET
PIAGGIO
T5
BMW
316
YAMAHA
XV535S
MERCEDES-BENZ
SLK
FORD
TRANSIT
HONDA
NTV650
BMW 3 SERIES Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1998 model year cars.
- Cooling System OverhaulSerious
Plastic water pump impellers shatter, expansion tanks split along mould seams, and composite thermostat housings warp with age. A complete cooling overhaul is essential every 60k–80k miles.
- Rear Shock Mount TearingSerious
The sheet metal towers supporting the rear shock mounts can fatigue and tear out under rough road impacts, leaving the damper loose inside the boot.
- VANOS Rattle & Seal FailureModerate
The variable valve timing unit (single VANOS on M50TU/M52, dual on M52TU) suffers from Buna-N O-ring hardening and bearing axial play, leading to loss of low-end torque and a noisy marble-in-a-tin-can rattle.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.