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MOT History from tests of petrol BMW R SERIESs year 1997

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

mot history
Pass percent:85.35%
(The average a petrol BMW R SERIES year 1997 passes without issue)
Based on:621 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment9
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released7
Registration plate lamp issues6
Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))4
Front Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))4
Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))3
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))3
Front Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))3
Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))3
Front Brake grabbing severely (1.2.1 (c))3
Registration plate issues3
Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))2
Rear Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))2
Throttle control functioning such that safe operation of the motorcycle is adversely affected (6.2.7 (a) (ii))2
Riders seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii))2
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))2
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened2
Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))2
Pillion seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii))2
Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))2
Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))2
Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))2
Rear Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (1.3.1a)1
Rear Stop lamp not working front brake light inop (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))1
Front Brake master cylinder leaking (1.1.10 (b) (ii))1
Rear Direction indicator likely to become detached rear left indicator broken (4.4.1 (c) (ii))1
Central Front Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))1
All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Central Front Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))1
Nearside Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Offside Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Nearside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls Rear control U/S (4.3.2 (a) (iii))1
Suspension arm insecure and control of the motorcycle impaired swingarm to drive unit (5.3.3 (a) (ii))1
Offside Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))1
Stop lamp not working rear brake (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Throttle operating incorrectly Idle Speed Raising on R/H Lock. (6.2.7 (a) (i))1
Throttle operating incorrectly (6.2.7 (a) (i))1
Front Upper Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))1
Offside Front Brake caliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))1
Front Wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up (5.1.3 (b) (ii))1
Rear Stop lamp not working front brake (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Central Rear Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))1
Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak fork seals (5.3.2 (b))1
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Central Front Upper Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))1
Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Steering headbearing excessively stiff or notchy (2.2.2 (f) (i))1
Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Brake hose leaking (1.1.12 (c))1
Central Front Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam (4.1.3 (b))1
Central Front Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (4.1.3 (b))1
All position lamps not working (4.2.1 (a))1
Rear Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Position lamp not working side lamp inop (4.2.1 (a))1
Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))1
Nearside Front Brake disc contaminated Nearside front brake disc contaminated with oil (1.1.14 (b))1
Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))1
Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam (4.1.3 (b))1
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened1
Front Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))1
Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (4.1.3 (b))1
Steering operation fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock Steering lock stop broken (2.1.4 (b))1
Handlebar fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock steering lock stop broken (2.1.4 (b))1
Stop lamp not working Forward Control (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Rear Brake disc fractured (1.1.14 (a) (ii))1
Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))1
Nearside Rear Direction indicator missing (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))1
Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))1
Front Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))1
Front Wheel spindle locking device ineffective (5.2.1 (d))1
Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))1
Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (b))1
Front Brake cylinder leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))1
Nearside Brake caliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))1
Offside Brake caliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))1
Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Stop lamp not working when rear brake is applied. (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Position lamp switch does not illuminate all position lamps with a single operation (4.2.2 (a))1

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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