IsItAGoodCar
Official DVLA Record
Outstanding Recall

2002 BMW M3 3.2L Petrol · LJ52 YLF

LJ52 YLF

2002 BMW M3 (3.2L, petrol). First registered 01 Sept 2002. Recorded mileage 107,080 miles. MOT status: Failed. Currently declared SORN. A manufacturer safety recall is currently outstanding.

Make & Model
BMW M3
Year / Origin
2002 · Wimbledon (South London)
Safety Recall
Recall Notice
MOT Status
Failed
Road Tax
SORN
Recorded Mileage
107,080 mi
ULEZ Compliance
Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
Fuel & Engine
PETROL · 3.2L
Reliability Guide
Common Faults

Outstanding Safety Recall Notice

Action Required

Official 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.

MOT Status
Failed
No test records found
Tax Status
SORN
Statutory Off Road (SORN)
Fuel Type
PETROL
Year
2002
Engine
3246cc
Mechanical Assessment

AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

The roadworthiness of this vehicle is currently concerning based on the most recent test results. The MOT on October 3, 2024 at 107,080 miles resulted in a significant failure involving multiple critical systems. Specifically, the presence of an inoperative Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp and an ABS fault indicates deep-seated electronic or sensor management issues that remain unaddressed. While the vehicle previously passed tests, the current trend shows a sharp decline in mechanical standards and neglect of essential safety-related components. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 24-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 4,462 miles per year. However, the data reveals a massive eight-year gap between February 2016 and October 2024, during which the car covered only 204 miles. This pattern suggests the vehicle has sat stationary for long periods, which often leads to the degradation of rubber components, fluid breakdown, and internal engine corrosion. The lack of regular use over nearly a decade explains the state of the brake discs and perished components noted in the 2024 failure. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the braking and suspension systems. The 2024 failure flagged contaminated brake discs on all four wheels and a perished anti-roll bar linkage dust cover, suggesting seized calipers or significant corrosion. The history of a broken rear coil spring in 2016 indicates that the suspension geometry is prone to stress or age-related fatigue. Furthermore, the low mileage masks potential issues; the ABS fault and engine light must be diagnosed with a professional tool, as these represent potentially expensive repairs that the previous owner has ignored despite the long period of inactivity.

LJ52 YLF Key Findings

  • 1 MOT test recorded
  • Outstanding manufacturer safety recall notice
  • Latest MOT failed on 03/10/2024
  • 107,080 miles recorded at latest MOT
  • 1 historical MOT failure
  • 9 defects noted at the latest MOT

Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.

Updating live data
MOT Roadworthiness Analysis
20
/ 100 · Poor
DVSA Test Records Evaluated

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.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
! Tax Status Unknown
✗ Poor MOT pass rate (0%)
! Older vehicle
✗ Outstanding recall notice
Experian Provenance Check

Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.

Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for LJ52YLF

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Finance
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Write-off
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Salvage
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Imported
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Exported
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Scrapped
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
Destruction
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
V5C Logbook
UNVERIFIED
Unlock to verify
£20,000 Experian Data Guarantee Included

Verify Outstanding Finance & Provenance Before Buying

Free DVLA records only confirm roadworthiness. Protect yourself against active finance repossession, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage fraud with an official Experian check.

✓ One-off payment (no subscription)✓ Instant on screen + PDF emailed✓ Official Experian registry✓ Apple Pay / Google Pay / Cards

Data provided by Experian

Technical Specifications

May be subject to ULEZ charges
Recall Notice Outstanding

Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence

Estimate current market value

Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.

Reliability & Known Issues

Known faults for BMW M3

Our database tracks 6 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.

LJ52 YLF MOT History

Vehicle record last updated: 17 Jun 2026, 01:51
MOT Analysis

Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

1 MOT test are recorded for this 2002 BMW M3 (LJ52 YLF) between October 2024 and October 2024.

The record contains 0 passes and 1 failure.

The most recent test on 03 October 2024 was a fail; the vehicle has not passed its last recorded MOT.

Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (4 issues), Tyres (2 issues), Lighting (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.

In total 2 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: “Offside Rear Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))”; “Nearside Rear Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))”; “Offside Front Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))”.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY

BMW M3 Model Intelligence & Reliability

Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.

All M3 problems

Regional DVLA Registration Directory

Vehicles and registration batches issued by regional DVLA offices across the UK.

LJ52 series plates

Recently Checked UK Vehicles

Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.

All trending checks