MOT History from tests of petrol 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:52.16%

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

Based on:247,848 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	34456
Headlamp aim out of alignment	17944
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	14723
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	12349
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	11523
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	11361
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	8135
Registration plate lamp issues	6618
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	6468
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	6180
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	6172
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	5638
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5091
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5077
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	4944
Registration plate issues	4781
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	4720
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4455
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	3934
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	3915
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	3875
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3848
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	3570
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	3406
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	3271
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	2766
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2619
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	2523
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2490
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	2309
Rear brake binding	2237
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2188
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	2100
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	1916
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1870
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1862
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1717
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	1706
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	1688
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1644
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	1635
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	1628
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1480
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1381
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1332
Windscreen has damage	1320
Front brake application uneven	1263
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	1243
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	1243
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1194
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	1188
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	1162
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1131
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1130
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1123
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1060
Brake hose damaged	1057
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1041
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	934
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	884
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	863
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	845
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	844
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	839
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	829
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	825
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	825
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	816
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	811
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	795
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	791
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	746
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	746
Rear brake application uneven	739
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	699
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	693
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	689
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	686
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	669
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	659
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	658
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	649
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	642
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	640
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	638
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	637
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	612
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	612
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	587
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	582
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	570
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	569
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	566
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	560
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	551
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	542
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	540
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	538
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	521
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	519
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	511
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	508
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	506
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	499
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	482
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	482
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	481
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	474
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	471
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	471
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	458
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	447
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	445
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	434
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	427
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	419
Centre Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	416
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	414
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	398
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	395
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	388
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	386
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	381
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	379
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	374
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	370
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	365
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	358

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 1997

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