MOT History from tests of petrol BMW M3s year 1998

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:67.62%

(The average a petrol BMW M3 year 1998 passes without issue)

Based on:10,154 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Brake pipe excessively corroded	739
Headlamp aim out of alignment	617
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	305
Registration plate issues	264
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	218
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	207
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	204
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	154
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	150
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	118
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	104
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	92
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	91
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	89
Registration plate lamp issues	82
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	80
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	78
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	76
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	73
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	70
Offside Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	70
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	69
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	68
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	67
Rear brake binding	64
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	62
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	61
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	60
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	58
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	53
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	53
Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	50
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	50
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	48
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	46
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	44
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	41
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	40
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	39
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	38
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	38
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	37
Windscreen has damage	36
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	34
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	33
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	30
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	30
Nearside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	29
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	28
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	28
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\|	27
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	27
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	27
Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	26
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	26
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	25
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	25
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	25
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	25
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	24
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	24
Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	24
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	24
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	24
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\|	24
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
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	24
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	24
Rear brake application uneven	24
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	23
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	22
Nearside Front Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	21
Front brake application uneven	21
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\|	20
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	20
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	20
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	20
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	20
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	20
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	20
Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	20
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	20
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	19
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	19
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush \|2.7.4\|	19
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	18
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	18
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\|	18
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	18
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	18
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	17
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))	17
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	17
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\|	17
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	17
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	16
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	16
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	16
Nearside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	16
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	16
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	15
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	15
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	15
Power steering component\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	15
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	14
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking \|2.3.3b\|	14
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	14
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	14
Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii))	14
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	14
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	14
Side repeater incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	13
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	13
Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	13
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	13
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	13
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	13
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	12
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	12
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	12
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|8.2.1.2 \|c\|\|	12
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	12
Power steering pipe\|s\| or hose\|s\| leaking from a joint \|2.3.3b\|	12
Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	11
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	11
Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	11
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	11
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	11
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	11
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	11
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	11
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	11
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	11
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	10
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	10
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	10
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	10
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	10
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	10
Centre Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	10
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	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 1998

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