MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 3-SERIESs year 1990

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:56.57%

(The average a petrol BMW 3-SERIES year 1990 passes without issue)

Based on:63,277 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	11564
Brake pipe excessively corroded	6371
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	3335
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	2960
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	1986
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	1513
Registration plate issues	1377
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	1310
Registration plate lamp issues	1209
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|7.3.B.1a\|	1124
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	858
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	824
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	737
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	733
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	698
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	690
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	673
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	635
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	621
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	606
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	605
Rear brake binding	547
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	527
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	527
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	496
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	491
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	489
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	484
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	465
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	461
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	442
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	432
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	426
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	423
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	417
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	416
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	413
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	413
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	409
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	404
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	403
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	400
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	392
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	376
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	370
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	353
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	352
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	345
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	335
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|7.3.B.1b\|	332
Windscreen has damage	324
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	320
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	301
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	294
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	281
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	275
Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	272
Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	266
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	247
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	245
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	241
Rear brake application uneven	233
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	227
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	226
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	223
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	223
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	223
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	222
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	221
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	221
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	220
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	218
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	216
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	211
Rear fog lamp switch faulty \|1.3.1a\|	211
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	211
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	207
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	207
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	206
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	206
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	205
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	202
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	201
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	198
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	197
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	195
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	194
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	194
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	193
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	188
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	184
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	180
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	179
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	178
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	175
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	170
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	167
Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	162
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	161
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	160
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	160
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	160
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	159
Offside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	158
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	157
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	156
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	153
Nearside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	153
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	152
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	151
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	149
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	149
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	144
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	143
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	143
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	141
Windscreen washer not working	139
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	139
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	137
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	135
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	135
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	135
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	132
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	131
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	131
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	130
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	128
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	128
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	125
Offside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	125
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	122
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	119
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	117
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	117
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	115
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	112
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	111
Nearside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	110
Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion \|6.1.C.1\|	110
Front brake application uneven	109
Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	108
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	107
Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	107
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	106
Front Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	105
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	105
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	102
Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion \|6.1.C.1\|	102
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	100
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	100
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	100
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	100
Offside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	99
Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	99
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	98
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	98
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	97
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	96
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	96
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	96
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	95
Brake hose damaged	95
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	92
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	91
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	90
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	89
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	88
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	87
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	87
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	87
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	86
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone `A` \|8.3.1b\|	86
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	84
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	84
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	83
Nearside Front Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	83
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	83

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 1990

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