MOT History from tests of diesel BMW 5-SERIESs year 1999

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:56.56%

(The average a diesel BMW 5-SERIES year 1999 passes without issue)

Based on:15,816 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1526
Headlamp aim out of alignment	1521
Brake pipe excessively corroded	1149
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	830
Registration plate lamp issues	774
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	436
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	429
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	392
Registration plate issues	283
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	244
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	242
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	226
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	221
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	187
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	173
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	169
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	148
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	134
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	130
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	106
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	104
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	103
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	99
Windscreen has damage	96
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	92
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	89
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	87
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	83
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	81
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	80
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	80
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine \|7.4.B.3b\|	76
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	75
Rear brake binding	75
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	74
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	73
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	72
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	69
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	68
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	68
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	67
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	67
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	67
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	66
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	65
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	64
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	62
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	57
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	57
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	55
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	55
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	53
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	53
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	53
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	53
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\|	52
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\|	52
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\|	51
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\|	51
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	51
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	51
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	51
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	50
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	50
Offside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1c\|	50
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	50
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	49
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	49
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	47
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	47
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	47
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	46
Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|1.4.2 \|a\| \|i\|\|	42
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	42
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	41
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	41
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	41
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	41
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	41
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	40
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	40
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	39
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	39
Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release \|5.2.5a\|	39
Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	38
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	38
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	37
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault \|3.4.1c\|	37
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	37
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user \|1.6.2b\|	37
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	37
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	35
Windscreen washer not working	33
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	33
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	33
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	32
Offside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	32
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	31
Nearside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	29
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	29
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	29
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\|	28
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	28
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	28
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	27
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault \|7.1.6 \|a\|\|	27
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	27
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	27
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	27
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	27
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	27
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	27
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	26
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	26
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	26
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	26
Offside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.4.A.2h\|	26
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	26
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	25
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\|	25
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	25
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	25
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	25
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	24
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	24
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	23
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	23
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	22
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	22
Nearside Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	22
Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	22
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	22
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	21
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	21
Offside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	21

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 5-SERIESs year 1999

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