MOT History from tests of petrol BMW M3s year 1997

Review the list of common BMW M3 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your BMW then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:65.62%

(The average a petrol BMW M3 year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:9,410 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	875
Headlamp aim out of alignment	676
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	285
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	259
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	226
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	218
Registration plate issues	185
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	137
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	129
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	128
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	103
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	103
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	100
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	100
Registration plate lamp issues	100
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	99
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	99
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	95
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	90
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	89
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	86
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	81
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	79
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	70
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	69
Rear brake binding	61
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	56
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	54
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	50
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	49
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	45
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	44
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	43
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	42
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	42
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	42
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	41
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	39
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	37
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	36
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	34
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	33
Windscreen has damage	33
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	31
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	30
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	30
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	29
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	28
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	28
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	28
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	27
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	27
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	27
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	25
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	25
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	25
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\|	24
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	23
Nearside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	23
Rear brake application uneven	22
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	22
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\|	22
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\|	22
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	22
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	21
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	21
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	20
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	20
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	20
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Front brake application uneven	19
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	19
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	19
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\|	18
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	18
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	17
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	17
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	16
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	15
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	15
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	15
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking from a joint \|2.3.3b\|	15
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	15
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	15
Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	15
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	15
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	14
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	14
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	14
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	14
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	14
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	14
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	14
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	14
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	14
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	14
Front Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	14
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault \|7.1.6 \|a\|\|	13
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	13
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	13
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	13
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	13
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	13
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	12
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	12
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	12
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	12
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	12
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	12
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	12
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	12
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	12
Brake hose damaged	12
Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	12
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	12
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	11
Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	11
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	11
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	11
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	11
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	11
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	11
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	11
Nearside Rear Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	10
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	10
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	10
Windscreen washer not working	10
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	10
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	10
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	10
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	10
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	10

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 M3s year 1997

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