MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 5-SERIESs year 1990

Review the list of common BMW 5-SERIES failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your BMW then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:55.67%

(The average a petrol BMW 5-SERIES year 1990 passes without issue)

Based on:18,396 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	2131
Headlamp aim out of alignment	1680
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	1062
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	807
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	491
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|7.3.B.1a\|	452
Registration plate lamp issues	429
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	419
Registration plate issues	319
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	297
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	262
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	255
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	236
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	196
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	194
Windscreen has damage	193
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	181
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	178
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	175
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	169
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	167
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	157
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	155
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	151
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	151
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	147
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	142
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	134
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	131
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	130
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	129
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	119
Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm \|2.2.B.1b\|	117
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	116
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	115
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	113
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	112
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	110
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	110
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	110
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	109
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|7.3.B.1b\|	109
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	109
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	107
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	106
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	106
Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	104
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	104
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	102
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	99
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	99
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	98
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	98
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	97
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	97
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	96
Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	95
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	94
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	94
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	92
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	92
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	91
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	91
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	90
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	87
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	86
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	84
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	83
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	82
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	80
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	80
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	79
Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	73
Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	71
Rear brake binding	70
Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel \|steering box fitted\| \|2.2.A.1a\|	70
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	68
Rear brake application uneven	68
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	68
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	67
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	65
Rear Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	65
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	63
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	61
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	61
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	58
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	58
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	58
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	53
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	52
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	51
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	51
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	51
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	50
Offside Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	50
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	49
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	47
Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	47
Front brake application uneven	46
Offside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	46
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	45
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	45
Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	44
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	43
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	42
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	42
Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	41
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	41
Nearside Rear Sub-frame has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	41
Nearside Front Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	40
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	39
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	39
Offside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	38
Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	38
Nearside Front Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	37
Nearside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	36
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	36
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	35
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	35
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	35
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	34
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	34
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	34
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	34
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	33
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	33
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	32
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	32
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	32
Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	32
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	31
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	31
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	30
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	30
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	30
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	30
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	30
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	29
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	29
Nearside Rear Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	28
Nearside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	28
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	28
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	27
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	27
Offside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	27
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	27
Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	27
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	27
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	27
Nearside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced \|2.4.F.2\|	27
Offside Rear Bonded suspension unit bonding failed and part of unit is likely to become displaced \|2.4.F.2\|	27
Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	27
Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	26
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	26
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	26
Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	26
Nearside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	25
Offside Front Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	25
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	25
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	25
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	25
Nearside Rear Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	25

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 5-SERIESs year 1990

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