MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1998

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:49.10%

(The average a diesel BMW 3-SERIES year 1998 passes without issue)

Based on:4,837 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	681
Headlamp aim out of alignment	367
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	329
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	223
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	216
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	200
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	191
Registration plate lamp issues	139
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	136
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	120
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	119
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	112
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	107
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	102
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	97
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	96
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	92
Registration plate issues	92
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	83
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	77
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	76
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	72
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	71
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	70
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	70
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	69
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	61
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	60
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	53
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	48
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	46
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	46
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	43
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	41
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	41
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	40
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	39
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	39
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	36
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	35
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	35
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	34
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	33
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	33
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	33
Windscreen has damage	32
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	31
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	31
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	31
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	30
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	29
Front brake application uneven	28
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	28
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	27
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	26
Rear brake binding	26
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	26
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	26
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	25
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	25
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	25
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	25
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	25
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	24
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	24
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	23
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	23
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	22
Brake hose damaged	22
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	21
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	21
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	20
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	20
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	20
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	20
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	20
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	20
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	20
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	19
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	19
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	18
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	17
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	17
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	15
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	15
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	15
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	15
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	15
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	14
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	14
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	14
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	14
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	13
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	13
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	13
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	13
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	13
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	13
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	13
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	12
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	12
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	12
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	12
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	11
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	11
Nearside Rear Brake pipe leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	11
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	11
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	11
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	11
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	11
Front Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	10
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	10
Rear brake application uneven	10
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	10
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	10
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	10
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	10
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	10
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	9
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	9
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	9
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	9
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	9
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	9
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	9
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	9
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	8
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	8
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	8
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	8
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour \|7.4.B.4\|	8
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	8
Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	8
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	8

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.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1998

Find us on Facebook