MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 5-SERIESs year 1996

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:53.81%

(The average a petrol BMW 5-SERIES year 1996 passes without issue)

Based on:51,878 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	7094
Headlamp aim out of alignment	5010
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	4574
Brake pipe excessively corroded	4037
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	2516
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	1949
Registration plate lamp issues	1827
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	1467
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	1294
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	1205
Registration plate issues	979
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	892
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	885
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	875
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	670
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	624
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	556
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	543
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	539
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	457
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	448
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	445
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	434
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	432
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	430
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	399
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	359
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	357
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	351
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	345
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	340
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	332
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	324
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	316
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	310
Windscreen has damage	307
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	283
Rear brake binding	279
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	275
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	272
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	268
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	267
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	262
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	257
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	252
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	252
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	248
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	247
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	243
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	233
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	221
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	210
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	209
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	188
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	187
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\|	181
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	180
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	179
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\|	177
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\|	175
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	173
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	169
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	164
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	158
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	156
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	150
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	150
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\|	150
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	141
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	140
Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	137
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	137
Centre Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	134
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	132
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	131
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	130
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	128
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	127
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	126
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	123
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	123
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	122
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	122
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	120
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	120
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	119
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	119
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	117
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	117
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	110
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	107
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	102
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	102
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	101
Centre Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	101
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	100
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	100
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	99
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	97
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	92
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	91
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	91
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	90
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	90
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	90
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	89
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	89
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	89
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	88
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	88
Front brake application uneven	87
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	87
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	83
Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm \|2.2.B.1b\|	79
Offside Rear coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	76
Nearside Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings \|2.2.B.1h\|	76
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	76
Brake hose damaged	76
Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	76
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	75
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	74
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	73
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\|	72
Rear Exhaust mounting missing \|7.1.1b\|	72
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	72

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 1996

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