MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1997

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:47.90%

(The average a diesel BMW 3-SERIES year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:8,437 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	1500
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	711
Headlamp aim out of alignment	627
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	589
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	531
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	417
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	314
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	235
Registration plate lamp issues	233
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	231
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	228
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	214
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	190
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	187
Registration plate issues	187
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	161
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	159
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	153
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	148
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	137
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	132
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	132
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	130
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	118
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	115
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	115
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	108
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	107
Rear brake binding	102
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	101
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	93
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	90
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	90
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	87
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	84
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	73
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	73
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	73
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	72
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	72
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	68
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	63
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	61
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	61
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	60
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	59
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	59
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	58
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	57
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	57
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	56
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	54
Front brake application uneven	53
Windscreen has damage	53
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	52
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	52
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	52
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	51
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	50
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	50
Brake hose damaged	50
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	50
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	49
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	47
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	47
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	46
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	45
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	43
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	42
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	41
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	40
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	39
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	38
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	38
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	38
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	37
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	37
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	35
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	35
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	34
Rear brake application uneven	34
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	34
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	33
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	33
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	32
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	32
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	31
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	31
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	31
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	31
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	30
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	29
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	28
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	27
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	27
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	26
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	26
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	25
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	25
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	25
Offside Front Brake hose excessively damaged \|3.6.B.4d\|	25
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	25
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	25
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	24
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	24
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	24
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	24
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	24
Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	23
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	23
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	22
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	22
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	22
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	22
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	21
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	21
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	20
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	20
Front Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	19
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	19
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	19
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	19
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Nearside Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	18
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	18
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	18
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	17
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	17
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	17
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour \|7.4.B.4\|	17
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	16
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	16
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	15
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	15
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	15
Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level \|3.6.G.1b\|	15
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	15
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	15
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	15
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	15
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	15
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	14
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	14
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	14
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	14
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	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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MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1997

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