BMW 3 Series 1997
Cars aged 28 · Data updated: 2026-11-09 (week 46) · source: VDA / Transeksta, CC BY 4.0
Pass the inspection first time
37.5% ±2.2 pp
M1 average at 28 years – 36.5%
n = 1,798 inspections
Expected mileage now (median)
341,237 km
Percentiles · cars aged 28
p10 208k
p25 275k
p50 341k
p75 412k
p90 480k
| km | |
|---|---|
| p10 | 207,670 km |
| p25 | 274,832 km |
| p50 | 341,237 km |
| p75 | 412,016 km |
| p90 | 479,802 km |
Too few readings for this model – class mileage is shown.
Inspection verdicts
3 Series 1997, n = 1,798
| % | |
|---|---|
| No defects | 14.3% |
| Minor defects | 23.2% |
| Major defects | 58.2% |
| Dangerous defects | 4.3% |
Odometer inconsistencies
9.1%
cars whose reading dropped between inspections
CO (petrol, idle)
0.40%
28.7% over the limit · n = 1,357
Smoke opacity (diesel)
1.43 m⁻¹
47.0% over the limit · n = 366
What these numbers say
37.5% of 1997 BMW 3 Series cars pass the technical inspection at the first attempt (n = 1,798), against an average of 36.5% for all 28-year-old M1 cars.
This model has too few odometer readings at this age, so the comparison is all 28-year-old M1 cars: typical mileage 341,237 km, half of them between 274,832 km and 412,016 km.
An odometer inconsistency was recorded for 47 cars, 9.1% of those assessed.
The median idle CO reading is 0.40% vol; 28.7% of measurements exceed the limit.
Figures are not adjusted for how intensively cars are used. How we calculate