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MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1994

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:49.43%
(The average a diesel BMW 3-SERIES year 1994 passes without issue)
Based on:8,833 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded1641
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|860
Headlamp aim out of alignment709
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort506
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively430
Brake hose excessively deteriorated406
Registration plate lamp issues399
Offside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|348
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|315
Registration plate issues206
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|203
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault201
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|198
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|187
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|182
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|153
Brakes imbalanced across an axle148
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|143
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|142
Fuel system component leaking |7.2.3|139
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|134
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|132
Horn not working |1.6.2a|123
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|122
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|115
Offside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|114
Nearside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|111
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|109
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine |7.4.B.3b|107
Offside Rear coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|103
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|99
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|91
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|87
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|77
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|76
Windscreen has damage75
Service brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|75
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|74
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|69
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|67
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|66
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|64
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|63
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|61
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|58
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|57
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|57
Offside Front coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|56
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|55
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|55
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|53
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|52
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|52
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|51
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|49
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened49
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|47
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|46
Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|46
Rear Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|44
Offside Front coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|43
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|42
Emissions not tested |7.0|42
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|41
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|41
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|40
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|40
Nearside Front coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|38
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|37
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|37
Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|36
Offside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|36
Brake hose damaged36
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|35
Nearside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|35
Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|35
Front brake application uneven34
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|34
Offside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|34
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|33
Offside Indicator tell tale inoperative |1.4.A.2a|33
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|32
Rear brake binding32
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|32
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|31
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|30
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|30
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|30
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|30
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|30
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is excessively worn |3.1.5|30
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|28
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|27
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|27
Offside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|26
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|26
Windscreen wiper blade insecure26
Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position |8.4.1|26
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|26
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|26
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|26
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|25
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|25
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|25
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|25
Centre Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|24
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate |3.4.1b|24
Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion |6.1.C.1|23
Offside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|23
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|23
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working |1.3.1b|23
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|22
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|22
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|21
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|21
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release |5.2.5a|21
Brake hose has insufficient room to move20
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|20
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|20
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` |8.3.1e|20
Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped |3.6.B.1|20
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened20
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|19
Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped |3.6.B.1|19
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|19
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|19
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|19
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|19
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|18
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|18
Rear brake application uneven18
Offside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|18
Nearside Side repeater not working |1.4.A.2c|18
Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|17
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|17
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|17
Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|17
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|17
Fuel pipe leaking |7.2.3|17
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|17
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|17
Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|16
Nearside Rear Brake pipe leaking |3.6.A.1|16
Brake pedal has no servo assistance |3.3.B.2|16
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|16
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|16
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|16
Nearside Inner Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|16
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings |6.1.B.2|16
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|16
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded |5.2.6|15
Offside Side repeater not working |1.4.A.2c|15
Offside Front coil spring cracked |2.4.C.1a|15
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|15
Offside Rear position lamp|s| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp |1.1.A.3f|14
Driver`s door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle |6.2.B.1b|14
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|14
Centre Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|14
Offside front brake binding |3.7.B.1|14
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|14
Front Fuel system component leaking |7.2.3|14

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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