MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 3-SERIESs year 1989

Review the list of common BMW 3-SERIES failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your BMW then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:57.58%

(The average a petrol BMW 3-SERIES year 1989 passes without issue)

Based on:55,103 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	6243
Brake pipe excessively corroded	5397
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	2794
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	2716
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	1764
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	1593
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1361
Registration plate issues	1232
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1125
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|7.3.B.1a\|	1063
Registration plate lamp issues	925
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	866
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	680
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	655
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	655
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	600
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	555
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	551
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	534
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	529
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	511
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	503
Rear brake binding	461
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	457
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	448
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	437
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	433
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	429
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	425
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	403
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	402
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	399
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	380
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|7.3.B.1b\|	366
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	360
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	335
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	335
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	330
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	321
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	319
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	314
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	311
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	309
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	299
Windscreen has damage	298
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	292
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	285
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	280
Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	277
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	277
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	258
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	251
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	248
Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	248
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	232
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	232
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	229
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	228
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	214
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	213
Rear brake application uneven	213
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	212
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	211
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	211
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	210
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	209
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	208
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	207
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	201
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	199
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	198
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	198
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	197
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	196
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	190
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	189
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	183
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	181
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	180
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	180
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	178
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	177
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	177
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	174
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	170
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	167
Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	165
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	164
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	162
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	160
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	156
Rear fog lamp switch faulty \|1.3.1a\|	149
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	149
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	147
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	146
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	144
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	144
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	143
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	142
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	137
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	137
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	135
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	134
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	134
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	134
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	132
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	131
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	130
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	128
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	128
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	128
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	125
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	125
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	124
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	123
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	122
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	122
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	121
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	121
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	120
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	119
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	117
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	116
Windscreen washer not working	115
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	115
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	114
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	114
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	113
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	113
Offside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	111
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	111
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	109
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	107
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	107
Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	106
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	106
Brake hose damaged	104
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	103
Offside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	101
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	101
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	100
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	100
Nearside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	99
Nearside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	98
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	98
Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel \|steering rack fitted\| \|2.2.A.1b\|	97
Nearside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	97
Front brake application uneven	96
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	96
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	95
Offside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	95
Front Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	93
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	93
Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	93
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	92
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	91
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	91
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	91
Offside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	90
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	89
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	87
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	86
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	85
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	85
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	85
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	84
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	83
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	83
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	83
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	83
Fuel hose leaking \|7.2.3\|	82
Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion \|6.1.C.1\|	82
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	81
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	81
Nearside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	81
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))	80
Offside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	79
Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	79
Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	78
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	78
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	78
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	78
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	76
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	75
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	74
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	74
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	74
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	73
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking from a joint \|2.3.3b\|	72
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	71
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	71
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	71

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 3-SERIESs year 1989

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