MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 8-SERIESs year 1999

Review the list of common BMW 8-SERIES failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your BMW then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:73.50%

(The average a petrol BMW 8-SERIES year 1999 passes without issue)

Based on:2,989 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	323
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	88
Brake pipe excessively corroded	85
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	48
Registration plate issues	46
Registration plate lamp issues	46
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	36
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	27
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	24
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	21
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	21
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	16
Windscreen washer not working	14
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	14
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	13
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	12
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	12
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	11
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	11
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	10
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	9
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	9
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	9
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	8
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	8
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	8
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	8
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	8
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	8
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	7
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	7
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	6
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	6
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	6
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	6
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	5
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	5
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	5
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	5
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	5
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	5
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	5
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken \|5.3.1 \|b\| \|i\|\|	5
Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	4
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	4
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))	4
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	4
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	4
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	4
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	4
Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	4
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	4
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	4
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Front brake application uneven	4
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	4
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	4
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	4
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	4
Windscreen has damage	4
Rear brake binding	4
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	4
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	4
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	3
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	3
Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure \|3.3.B.1a\|	3
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (1.6 (a))	3
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	3
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	3
Rear brake application uneven	3
Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))	3
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	3
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	3
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	3
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	3
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\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	3
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|8.2.1.2 \|c\|\|	3
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	3
Nearside Front Brake hose twisted \|found during steering lock to lock check\| \|2.2.D.2b\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	3
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	3
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	3
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	3
Windscreen wiper not working \|3.4 \|a\|\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	3
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	3

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.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	323
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	88
Brake pipe excessively corroded	85
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	48
Registration plate issues	46
Registration plate lamp issues	46
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	36
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	27
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	24
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	21
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	21
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	16
Windscreen washer not working	14
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	14
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	13
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	12
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	12
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	11
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	11
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	10
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	9
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	9
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	9
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	8
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	8
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	8
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	8
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	8
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	8
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	7
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	7
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	6
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	6
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	6
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	6
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	5
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	5
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	5
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	5
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	5
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	5
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	5
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	5
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken \|5.3.1 \|b\| \|i\|\|	5
Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	4
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	4
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))	4
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	4
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	4
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	4
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	4
Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	4
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	4
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	4
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Front brake application uneven	4
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	4
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	4
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	4
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	4
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	4
Windscreen has damage	4
Rear brake binding	4
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	4
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	4
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	4
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	3
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	3
Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure \|3.3.B.1a\|	3
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (1.6 (a))	3
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	3
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	3
Rear brake application uneven	3
Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))	3
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	3
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	3
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	3
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))	3
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\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	3
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|8.2.1.2 \|c\|\|	3
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))	3
Nearside Front Brake hose twisted \|found during steering lock to lock check\| \|2.2.D.2b\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	3
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	3
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	3
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	3
Windscreen wiper not working \|3.4 \|a\|\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	3
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	3
Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	3
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	3

MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 8-SERIESs year 1999

Find us on Facebook