MOT History from tests of petrol 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:53.25%

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

Based on:266,994 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	31232
Headlamp aim out of alignment	18891
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	13243
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	12433
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	10057
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	9626
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	7894
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	7534
Registration plate lamp issues	7347
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	6175
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	5988
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5616
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5184
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5158
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	4894
Registration plate issues	4787
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	4761
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4674
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	3908
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	3852
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3845
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	3624
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	3543
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	3067
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	2750
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	2553
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	2501
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2478
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	2461
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2305
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2250
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	2149
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	1958
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1922
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	1709
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1677
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	1660
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	1583
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	1561
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	1557
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1549
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	1519
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1425
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	1362
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1349
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1334
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1316
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1315
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1315
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1300
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1276
Windscreen has damage	1264
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1263
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1249
Front brake application uneven	1214
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1197
Rear brake binding	1143
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1086
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	1079
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	1076
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1018
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1002
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	967
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	938
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	896
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	873
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	848
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	804
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	804
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	803
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	796
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	790
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	788
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	774
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	763
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	747
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	741
Brake hose damaged	713
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	706
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	702
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	700
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	685
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	683
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	681
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	663
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	663
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	650
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	647
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	636
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	623
Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	595
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	584
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	582
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	555
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	555
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	549
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	546
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	535
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	529
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	525
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	525
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	499
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	491
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	482
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	478
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	469
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	464
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	459
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	458
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	439
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	436
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	434
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	433
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	432
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	428
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	428
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	426
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	424
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	423
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	411
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	411
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	409
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	406
Rear brake application uneven	406
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	406
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	403
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	401
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	398
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	397
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	391
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	386
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	383
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	382
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	381
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	378
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	378

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 1998

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