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Official DVLA Record
Outstanding Recall

2008 BMW 3 Series 2.0L Petrol · SP08 ANU

SP08 ANU

2008 BMW 3 Series (2.0L, petrol). First registered 25 Apr 2008. Recorded mileage 101,097 miles. MOT expired on 20 Nov 2025. A manufacturer safety recall is currently outstanding.

Make & Model
BMW 3 SERIES
Year / Origin
2008 · Dundee
Safety Recall
Recall Notice
MOT Status
Expired on 20 Nov 2025
Road Tax
—
Recorded Mileage
101,097 mi
ULEZ Compliance
ULEZ Compliant (Euro 4+)
Fuel & Engine
Petrol · 2.0L
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
Expired
Expired on 20 Nov 2025
Tax Status
Check Tax
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Fuel Type
Petrol
Year
2008
Engine
1995cc
Mechanical Assessment

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

The vehicle is currently in a roadworthy state based on the most recent MOT pass on 21 November 2024. The maintenance trend appears stable, as the record shows a consistent history of passing tests without any recorded defects or advisories. The absence of flagged mechanical issues across multiple years suggests a vehicle that has been kept in a condition meeting minimum legal standards. The odometer shows 101,097 miles, which is low for an 18 year old car. Usage patterns have fluctuated over the last few years. Between July 2022 and August 2023, the car covered 10,281 miles. However, the mileage increased by 7,112 miles between August 2023 and November 2024. This indicates a relatively light annual average, though the recent increase suggests the car has returned to more regular use. The MOT history is unusually clean, with no listed defects even during the failed tests in July 2022 and November 2024. This lack of data regarding why the vehicle failed makes it difficult to identify recurring mechanical weaknesses. It is atypical for a 2008 BMW 3 Series to have zero advisories regarding suspension bushes, brake disc corrosion, or exhaust leaks over a four year period. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on areas typically prone to age-related degradation that the MOT record fails to highlight. Check the chassis and wheel arches for structural corrosion and inspect the rubber suspension components for perishing. Given the low mileage and the gaps in the record, verify the condition of the brake calipers to ensure they are not seizing from periods of inactivity.
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SP08 ANU Key Findings

  • 5 MOT tests recorded
  • Outstanding manufacturer safety recall notice
  • Latest MOT passed on 21/11/2024
  • 101,097 miles recorded at latest MOT
  • 2 historical MOT failures
  • 7 defects noted at the latest MOT

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

SP08 ANU MOT History

Vehicle record last updated: 10 Sept 2026, 15:44
MOT Analysis

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

5 MOT tests are recorded for this 2008 BMW 3 Series (SP08 ANU) between July 2022 and November 2024.

The record contains 3 passes and 2 failures.

The most recent test on 21 November 2024 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.

Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Tyres (6 issues), Suspension (6 issues), Brakes (6 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (1 issue). 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 unable to be completed (8.2.2.2 (e))”; “Offside Front Seat belt not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (c))”.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY

SP08 ANU Mileage History

  1. 20/07/202283,551 mi
  2. 29/07/202283,704 mi+153 mi
  3. 10/08/202393,985 mi+10,281 mi
  4. 13/11/2024101,093 mi+7,108 mi
  5. 21/11/2024101,097 mi+4 mi

Average of roughly 7,495 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.

Technical Specifications

ULEZ Compliant
Recall Notice Outstanding

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MOT Roadworthiness Analysis
35
/ 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
Average MOT pass rate (60%)
Older vehicle
Outstanding recall notice
Experian Provenance Check

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Experian Provenance Data

Vehicle Provenance Investigation

9 Key Registers

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OUTSTANDING FINANCE

Experian Register

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INSURANCE WRITE-OFF

MIAFTR Register

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POLICE STOLEN (PNC)

Police PNC

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SALVAGE & AUCTION

Salvage Registers

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IMPORTED RECORD

Import Register

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Country of Origin Audit: [Check to Reveal]
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EXPORTED MARKER

Export Register

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SCRAPPED RECORD

Scrappage Register

Validates whether the car has been surrendered or notified as scrapped to an Authorized Treatment Facility.

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CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION

Statutory CoD

Confirms whether a statutory Certificate of Destruction has been issued against this chassis.

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V5C LOGBOOK & KEEPERS

DVLA Master

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Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory

Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.

Buying Score
62/100
Risk Level
Medium
Medium
Est. Annual Cost
£1,200-£1,500
Mileage
At 101,097 miles for a 2008 vehicle, the...

Our Verdict

Approach with measured caution — this 2008 BMW 3 Series has two MOT failures on record but no listed defects, suggesting administrative or presentation issues rather than mechanical faults. A clean recent pass at over 101,000 miles shows it is currently roadworthy, but verify the reasons behind the failures before buying.

Before purchasing this vehicle, obtain the full MOT failure documentation from the DVSA to understand why it failed on 13 November 2024 and 20 July 2022 with no defects listed — this often points to minor paperwork, lighting, or tyre presentation issues, but should be confirmed. Check for a complete service history, as a 17-year-old BMW with over 100,000 miles needs evidence of timing chain, cooling system, and suspension upkeep to avoid costly surprises.

As a 1995cc petrol BMW from 2008, this 3 Series will typically fall into a higher VED band than modern small cars and carry a mid-to-high insurance group for its age, though exact figures are not in the provided data. Fuel economy on the 2.0-litre petrol is reasonable for the class but not class-leading by today's standards; budget for regular maintenance including oil, brakes, and tyres suited to a rear-wheel-drive saloon. Typical annual running costs for a vehicle of this type and mileage are estimated at £1,200-£1,500 including fuel, tax, insurance, and routine servicing.

Inspect the vehicle in person and request the MOT failure advisories or reasons for the 2022 and 2024 failures, as the records show 'no defects recorded' yet a fail outcome — this is unusual and warrants clarification from the seller or DVSA. Given the 101,097-mile reading, pay close attention to the condition of the timing chain, water pump, and suspension bushings, which are general wear items on higher-mileage BMW petrol models though not flagged in this MOT data. Verify the black paintwork for stone chips and corrosion around arches, and confirm the odometer aligns with the recorded MOT mileages of 83,551 (2022), 93,985 (2023), and 101,097 (2024).

This black 2008 BMW 3 Series (SP08ANU) is a 2.0-litre petrol saloon first registered in April 2008 and now showing 101,097 miles on its latest November 2024 MOT. The MOT history includes two failures in 2022 and 2024, both with no defects recorded, and three passes with no defects noted. With no aggregate model reliability data available, the assessment rests solely on its individual history, which shows consistent annual mileage of roughly 10,000 miles and no flagged mechanical problems.

No aggregate MOT reliability data is available for the BMW 3 SERIES, so this assessment is based purely on the individual vehicle's recorded history.

Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.

Data Sources

DVSA

Official MOT test logs & failure reasons

DVLA

Tax, registration & powertrain specs

Experian

Finance, stolen markers & total loss

AI Analysis

Historical fault & advisory patterns