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MOT History from tests of petrol BMW R SERIESs year 1998

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:86.97%
(The average a petrol BMW R SERIES year 1998 passes without issue)
Based on:1,274 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released16
Headlamp aim out of alignment15
Front Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))14
Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))13
Rear Brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))10
Registration plate lamp issues10
Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))10
Front Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))8
Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))7
Front Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))7
Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))5
Registration plate issues5
Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))4
Front Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))4
Front Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))4
Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))4
Rear Stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))4
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))3
Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))3
Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))3
Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))3
Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen (4.1.2 (a))2
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))2
Rear Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))2
Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))2
Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))2
Rear Brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))2
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% (1.2.2 (a) (i))2
All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))2
Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))2
Front Brake cylinder leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))2
Front Brake fluid reservoir fluid not visible (1.1.10 (d) (iii))2
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))2
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Rear All position lamps not working (4.2.1 (a))1
Front Steering linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))1
Headlamp incorrect colour (4.1.4 (a))1
Steering operation fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock also oil cooler fouling movement (2.1.4 (b))1
Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp integrated indicators (4.3.3 (b))1
Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (4.1.3 (b))1
Front Suspension rod ball joint likely to become detached Suspension ball joint loose (5.3.4 (a) (ii))1
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (3.3.A2b)1
Rear Brake fluid reservoir fluid level dangerously low (3.2.B1d)1
Rear Brake fluid reservoir leaking hydraulic fluid (3.2.B1e)1
Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii))1
Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))1
Brake hose excessively deteriorated1
Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))1
Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))1
Front Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii))1
Front Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen (4.1.2 (a))1
Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))1
Rear Direction indicator obviously incorrectly positioned less than 180mm separation distance (4.4.3 (a))1
Front Upper Brake hose leaking (1.1.12 (c))1
Front Upper Brake hose damaged and likely to fail (1.1.12 (a))1
Front Brake grabbing severely (1.2.1 (c))1
Nearside Front Handlebar grip insecure to handlebar (2.2.1 (d) (ii))1
Central Front Steering linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))1
Nearside Front Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))1
Throttle operating incorrectly (6.2.7 (a) (i))1
Rear Brake disc contaminated Due to leaking oil from rear drive shaft housing. (1.1.14 (b))1
Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls Not Working From Front Control (4.3.2 (a) (iii))1
Front Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j))1
Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))1
Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))1
Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn rivetts (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
All position lamps not working (4.2.1 (a))1
Offside Direction indicator not working both (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Stop lamp not working foot brake lever. (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Brake lever not releasing correctly and functionality of brakes affected (1.1.2 (b) (ii))1
Front Wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up (5.1.3 (b) (ii))1
Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))1
Position lamp switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements (4.2.2 (a))1
Nearside Handlebar grip insecure to handlebar clutch lever now hits grip housing (2.2.1 (d) (ii))1
Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))1
Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect No movement in front suspension, Suspension excessively stiff. (5.3.2 (b))1
Headlamp aim projected beam image obviously incorrect U.S./Continental Headlight fitted. (4.1.2 (c))1
Rear Brake indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort over 33% (1.2.1 (e))1
Front Brake excessively binding front brake lever sticking on (1.2.1 (f))1
Rear Brake disc contaminated disc covered in fluid or oil and contaminated rear pads (1.1.14 (b))1
Front Horn not working (7.7 (a))1
Rear Wheel spoke excessively corroded (5.2.2 (d))1
Rear Brake hose connection leaking (1.1.12 (c))1
Handlebar fouling on the fuel tank or bodywork on full lock (2.1.4 (b))1
Brake fluid reservoir fluid level significantly below minimum level (1.1.10 (d) (ii))1
Front Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush Top mount (5.3.2 (c))1
Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn swing arm pivot joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Footrest insecure Locking device fitted. (6.2.12 (a))1
Nearside Rear All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Brake pedal insecure (1.1.2 (e) (i))1
Lower Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))1
Forks in such a condition that steering control is adversely affected OPERATION (2.2.2 (d) (ii))1
Handlebar retaining device loose (2.2.1 (b) (i))1
All direction indicators missing (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))1
Brake grabbing severely lever not returning (1.2.1 (c))1
Offside Front Upper Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls Front brake does not operate stop lamp (4.3.2 (a) (iii))1
Front Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on main beam missing (4.1.3 (b))1
Stop lamp does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls (4.3.2 (a) (iii))1
Front Upper Shock absorber insecurely attached (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Front Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))1
Rear Wheel spoke cracked (5.2.2 (d))1
Horn not working (7.7 (a))1
Front Forks insecure bottom fork bolt missing (2.2.2 (d) (i))1
Nearside Handlebar so insecure it is likely to become detached (2.2.1 (b) (ii))1
Central Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Rear Brake pedal not releasing correctly and functionality of brakes affected (1.1.2 (b) (ii))1
Central Front Upper Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Front Brake master cylinder leaking (1.1.10 (b) (ii))1
Rear Direction indicator likely to become detached tail lamp housing where indicators mount is very broken (4.4.1 (c) (ii))1
Front Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))1
Front Brake master cylinder defective but brake still operating excessively spongey (1.1.10 (b) (i))1
Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn rivets of disc are all excessively worn and moving excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))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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