MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 5-SERIESs year 1997

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:55.03%

(The average a petrol BMW 5-SERIES year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:82,805 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	13801
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	7992
Headlamp aim out of alignment	6881
Brake pipe excessively corroded	5488
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	4426
Registration plate lamp issues	2951
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	2386
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	2215
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	1829
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	1727
Registration plate issues	1598
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1389
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1356
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	1172
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	1064
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	1012
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1010
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	912
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	909
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	864
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	832
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	777
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	727
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	694
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	622
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	585
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	565
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	556
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	496
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\|	468
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	467
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	464
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	456
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\|	439
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	420
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	405
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	405
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	401
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	372
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	366
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\|	365
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	363
Windscreen has damage	362
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	358
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\|	356
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	354
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	353
Rear brake binding	329
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	326
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	315
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	302
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	296
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	290
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	268
Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	265
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	254
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	250
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	250
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	249
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	237
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	234
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	231
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	221
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	220
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	219
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	214
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	209
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\|	209
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	209
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	208
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	202
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	200
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	198
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	189
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	188
Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	185
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	181
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	180
Centre Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	177
Driver`s door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	176
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	175
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	166
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	165
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	162
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	159
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	157
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	151
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	148
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	147
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	146
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	146
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	142
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	141
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	137
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	136
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	136
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	135
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	135
Centre Rear Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	135
Brake hose damaged	134
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	132
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	131
Windscreen washer not working	130
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	130
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	129
Bootlid cannot be secured in the closed position \|6.4.1\|	125
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	124
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	121
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	120
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	119
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	117
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	117
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	116
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	115
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	115
Centre Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	115
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	114
Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|1.4.2 \|a\| \|i\|\|	112
Offside Rear coil spring cracked \|2.4.C.1a\|	112

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 1997

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