MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 3-SERIESs year 1999

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:52.55%

(The average a diesel BMW 3-SERIES year 1999 passes without issue)

Based on:7,756 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	900
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	726
Headlamp aim out of alignment	669
Registration plate lamp issues	493
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	445
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	358
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	265
Registration plate issues	179
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	177
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	164
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	144
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	134
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	116
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	114
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	114
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	104
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	102
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	101
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	98
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	95
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	95
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	93
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	91
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	86
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	81
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	80
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	80
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	77
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	76
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	76
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	71
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	70
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	70
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	66
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	60
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	60
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	58
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	54
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	50
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	49
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	48
Rear brake binding	47
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	47
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	47
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	46
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	45
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	44
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	43
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	43
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	41
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	41
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	41
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	41
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	39
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	37
Brake hose damaged	35
Windscreen has damage	33
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	32
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	30
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	30
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	30
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	29
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	28
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	28
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	28
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	27
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	27
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	26
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	26
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	26
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	26
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	26
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	25
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	25
Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	25
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	25
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	24
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	24
Front brake application uneven	24
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	24
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	23
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	23
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	22
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	22
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	22
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	22
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	22
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	21
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	21
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	21
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	21
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	20
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	20
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	20
Driver`s airbag obviously defective \|5.4.1\|	19
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	19
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	18
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	18
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	18
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	18
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	18
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	18
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	17
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	17
Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	17
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	16
Offside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	16
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	16
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	16
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	16
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	16
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	16
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Nearside Rear coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	15
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	15
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	15
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	14
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	14
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	14
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Offside Rear coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	14
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	14
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	14
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	14
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	13
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	13
Nearside Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush \|2.5.A.1c\|	13
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	13
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	12
Offside Rear Brake pipe leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	12
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	12
Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour \|7.4.B.4\|	12

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 1999

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