1998 BMW 3 Series 1.9L Petrol · S806 ETE
1998 BMW 3 Series (1.9L, petrol). First registered 01 Sept 1998. Recorded mileage 164,591 miles. MOT expired on 27 Mar 2018. A manufacturer safety recall is currently outstanding.
- Make & Model
- BMW 3 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Glasgow
- Safety Recall
- Recall Notice
- MOT Status
- Expired on 27 Mar 2018
- Road Tax
- Untaxed (03 Apr 2018)
- Recorded Mileage
- 164,591 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- PETROL · 1.9L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Outstanding Safety Recall Notice
Action RequiredOfficial DVSA telemetry indicates this vehicle has an unaddressed manufacturer safety recall. Remedial repairs are legally required to be carried out 100% free of charge by an authorised main dealer.
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.
S806 ETE Key Findings
- 17 MOT tests recorded
- Outstanding manufacturer safety recall notice
- Latest MOT failed on 21/03/2018
- 164,591 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 5 historical MOT failures
- 5 defects noted at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
S806 ETE MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
17 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 BMW 3 Series (S806 ETE) between March 2006 and March 2018.
The record contains 12 passes and 5 failures.
The most recent test on 21 March 2018 was a fail; the vehicle has not passed its last recorded MOT.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (19 issues), Lighting (6 issues), Tyres (5 issues), Suspension (4 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (3 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 20 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Emissions not tested (7.4.B.1)”; “Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)”; “Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)”.
S806 ETE Mileage History
- 09/03/200679,535 mi
- 09/03/200781,536 mi+2,001 mi
- 08/03/200883,764 mi+2,228 mi
- 10/03/200987,618 mi+3,854 mi
- 26/02/201090,287 mi+2,669 mi
- 22/02/201192,884 mi+2,597 mi
- 03/03/2012102,696 mi+9,812 mi
- 04/03/2013116,707 mi+14,011 mi
- 04/03/2013116,708 mi+1 mi
- 12/03/2014125,939 mi+9,231 mi
- 17/03/2014126,035 mi+96 mi
- 28/03/2015135,031 mi+8,996 mi
- 24/02/2016143,381 mi+8,350 mi
- 29/02/2016143,439 mi+58 mi
- 20/03/2017151,592 mi+8,153 mi
- 25/03/2017151,592 mi
- 21/03/2018164,591 mi+12,999 mi
Average of roughly 7,068 miles per year across 17 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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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: Poor
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.
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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.
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