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MOT History from tests of petrol 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:47.41%
(The average a petrol BMW 3-SERIES year 1994 passes without issue)
Based on:119,730 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded20983
Headlamp aim out of alignment11178
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|9006
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort6835
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively6471
Registration plate lamp issues5972
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive |7.3.D.3|5907
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits |7.3.D.3|4552
Brake hose excessively deteriorated4332
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|3890
Offside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|3824
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive |7.3.D.4|3549
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|3188
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault2812
Registration plate issues2740
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|2378
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|2315
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|2264
Brakes imbalanced across an axle2170
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|2059
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|2009
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|1951
Nearside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|1943
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive |7.3.D.3|1787
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1758
Offside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|1670
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1659
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|1548
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1494
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1479
Horn not working |1.6.2a|1475
Rear brake binding1387
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|1280
Offside Rear coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|1235
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|1172
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|1172
Emissions not tested |7.0|1163
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|1125
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|1087
Service brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|1066
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|982
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|978
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|918
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|918
Windscreen has damage872
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|842
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|795
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|749
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|743
Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|706
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|697
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|697
Offside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|682
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|677
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened653
Nearside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|651
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|639
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|604
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|600
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|594
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|589
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|587
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|580
Offside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|569
Rear brake application uneven543
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|529
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|526
Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|515
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|504
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|491
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|484
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|479
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported |7.1.1|472
Front brake application uneven471
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|468
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|437
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|421
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|413
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|410
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is excessively worn |3.1.5|398
Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|396
Brake hose damaged395
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` |8.3.1e|388
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|380
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|379
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|376
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|375
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|368
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|364
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|358
Offside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|358
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|355
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|351
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|344
Offside Indicator tell tale inoperative |1.4.A.2a|339
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate |3.4.1b|337
Offside Front coil spring fractured |2.4.C.1a|337
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam |1.7.5a|332
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|331
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|330
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|329
Offside Rear Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|326
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|317
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working |1.3.1b|309
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split |2.2.D.2d|308
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|307
Windscreen wiper blade insecure302
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|298
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement |7.2.4b|297
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|293
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|293
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt|s| missing |4.2.A.1e|286
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|284
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|282
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|275
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect |2.7.5|271
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|270
Nearside Front Wheel bolt|s| missing |4.2.A.1e|266
Front Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|264
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|263
Offside Front coil spring incomplete |2.4.C.1a|252
Nearside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|249
Nearside Side repeater not working |1.4.A.2c|248
Offside Inner Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|246
Nearside Inner Rear position lamp|s| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance |1.1.A.3d|240
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|240
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|236
Brake pedal spongy |3.3.B.1b|234
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release |5.2.5a|233
Centre Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|231
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|230
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|230
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|229
Exhaust mounting missing |7.1.1b|229
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|228
Centre Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|224
Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|223
Offside Rear position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|222
Brake performance not tested |3.7.A.1|222
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|217
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|216
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort |3.7.B.5a|216
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|215
Nearside Rear Seat belt retracting mechanism defective |5.2.5b|210
Offside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped |3.6.B.1|210
Offside Front Direction indicator not working |1.4.A.2c|209
Offside Front Wheel bolt|s| missing |4.2.A.1e|204
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement203
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded |2.4.A.3|201
Offside Side repeater not working |1.4.A.2c|201
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated |7.1.1a|200
Offside Rear Wheel bolt|s| missing |4.2.A.1e|200
Offside Rear Braking system leaking |3.6.A.1|198
Rear Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|198
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working |1.4.A.2c|198
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|198
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|197
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release |5.2.5a|197
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|196
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image |1.2.4a|195
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking |3.6.A.1|195
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|193
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated |8.2.2|193
Brake hose has insufficient room to move191
Nearside Front position lamp|s| incorrect colour |1.1.A.3e|189
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|189
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|189
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|189
Battery insecure |1.9.1|189
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view |8.1.2a|189

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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