<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MRI Business
Properties Fund Ltd. III 1996 Third Quarter 10-Q and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such 10-Q filing.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000769635
<NAME> MRI BUSINESS PROPERTIES FUND LTD III
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                             428
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      171
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,139
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                         936
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,139
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0<F2>
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                         0<F2>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>The Registrant has an unclassified statement of net assets in liquidation.
<F2>The Registrant has changed to the liquidation basis of accounting.
<F3>Multiplier is 1.
</FN>