BMW 3-Series MOT Results

Registered in 1990
72.7% pass rate
from 1,463 tests in 2021
(12% better than other 1990 cars)
Pass rate by mileage
Failure rates by item

Here you can drill down into the failure rates for each item on the test. We've also compared the rates to the average results for 1990 cars and highlighted areas where the BMW 3-Series is unusually good or bad.

  • 14% fail on Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
    • 6.6% fail on Headlamp aim (48% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 6.5% fail on Headlamp aim (54% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.14% fail on Headlamp aim not tested
    • 2.9% fail on Headlamps
      • 1.8% fail on Headlamp (45% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 1.2% fail on Headlamp levelling device (8 times worse than other 1990 cars)
    • 2.9% fail on Direction indicators
      • 2.9% fail on Flashing type
        • 1.8% fail on Individual direction indicators
        • 0.96% fail on Side repeaters
        • 0.14% fail on All direction indicators
    • 2.5% fail on Stop lamp
    • 2.2% fail on Front and rear fog lamps
      • 2.2% fail on Rear fog lamp
        • 2.2% fail on Rear fog lamp
    • 2.1% fail on Electrical equipment
      • 1.1% fail on Battery(ies)
      • 0.96% fail on Horn
      • 0.14% fail on Electrical wiring
    • 0.41% fail on Mandatory tell-tales
      • 0.34% fail on Rear fog lamp tell-tale
      • 0.068% fail on Main beam tell-tale
    • 0.27% fail on Registration plate lamp(s) (81% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 0.14% fail on Hazard warning
      • 0.14% fail on Switch
    • 0.068% fail on Position lamps
      • 0.068% fail on Switch
  • 9.5% fail on Suspension
    • 3.6% fail on Component mounting prescribed areas
    • 3.5% fail on Suspension arms (60% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 1.8% fail on Ball joint (130% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 1.4% fail on Pins and bushes (99% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.55% fail on Ball joint dust cover
      • 0.21% fail on Suspension arm
    • 1.6% fail on Anti-roll bars (73% worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.68% fail on Linkage pins and bushes (2 times worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.21% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
      • 0.14% fail on Pins and bushes
      • 0.14% fail on Linkage
      • 0.14% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.14% fail on Linkage ball joints
      • 0.068% fail on Anti-roll bar
      • 0.068% fail on Ball joint dust cover
      • 0.068% fail on Linkage ball joint dust cover
    • 0.96% fail on Springs
      • 0.82% fail on Coil springs
        • 0.75% fail on Coil spring
        • 0.068% fail on Mounting
      • 0.14% fail on Spring mounting prescribed areas
    • 0.89% fail on Sub-frames
      • 0.55% fail on Pins and bushes (3 times worse than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.41% fail on Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas
    • 0.55% fail on Shock absorbers
    • 0.27% fail on Wheel bearings (83% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 0.27% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.14% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.068% fail on Other suspension component
      • 0.068% fail on Pins and bushes
    • 0.14% fail on Axles
      • 0.14% fail on Swivel pins and bushes
    • 0.14% fail on Macpherson strut
      • 0.068% fail on Attachment bracket and mounting
      • 0.068% fail on Pins and bushes
  • 7.0% fail on Brakes (29% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 4.6% fail on Brake performance (36% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 2.5% fail on Parking brake efficiency (sp)
        • 2.3% fail on Rbt (sp)
        • 0.14% fail on Decelerometer (sp)
      • 1.4% fail on Service Brake Efficiency (sp) (55% better than other 1990 cars)
        • 1.4% fail on Rbt (sp) (53% better than other 1990 cars)
          • 0.82% fail on Service brake performance
          • 0.82% fail on Service brake imbalance (59% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 1.1% fail on Service brake performance (61% better than other 1990 cars)
        • 1.1% fail on Rbt (60% better than other 1990 cars)
          • 0.96% fail on Service brake performance (58% better than other 1990 cars)
          • 0.21% fail on Service brake imbalance
      • 0.89% fail on Parking brake performance
        • 0.89% fail on Rbt
          • 0.82% fail on Parking brake performance
          • 0.068% fail on Parking (secondary brake performance)
      • 0.27% fail on Brake performance not tested
    • 2.2% fail on Rigid brake pipes
    • 0.62% fail on Mechanical brake components
      • 0.34% fail on Brake linings and pads
        • 0.27% fail on Brake pads
        • 0.068% fail on Brake linings
      • 0.27% fail on Brake discs and drums
        • 0.21% fail on Brake discs
        • 0.068% fail on Brake drums
      • 0.068% fail on Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages
        • 0.068% fail on Cable
    • 0.34% fail on Service brake pedal or hand lever
      • 0.21% fail on Pedal
      • 0.14% fail on Hand lever
    • 0.34% fail on Flexible brake hoses
    • 0.21% fail on Parking brake control
      • 0.21% fail on Lever
    • 0.21% fail on Hydraulic systems
      • 0.14% fail on Brake fluid
      • 0.068% fail on Master cylinder
    • 0.068% fail on Brake actuators (including spring brakes or hydraulic cylinders)
      • 0.068% fail on Hydraulic brake callipers
    • 0.068% fail on Other components and prescribed areas
      • 0.068% fail on Prescribed areas
        • 0.068% fail on Other braking system component
    • 0.068% fail on ABS / EBS / ESC
      • 0.068% fail on Anti-lock braking system
  • 6.9% fail on Visibility
    • 5.2% fail on Washers
    • 1.8% fail on Wipers (38% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 0.21% fail on View to rear
      • 0.14% fail on Mirrors
      • 0.068% fail on Indirect vision devices
  • 5.5% fail on Body, chassis, structure (33% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 1.4% fail on Exhaust system (42% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 1.1% fail on Chassis
      • 1.1% fail on Chassis condition
    • 1.0% fail on Fuel system
      • 0.48% fail on Fuel cap/sealing device
      • 0.27% fail on Pipe
      • 0.21% fail on Hose
      • 0.14% fail on Tank
    • 0.96% fail on Integral vehicle structure
      • 0.89% fail on Integral vehicle structure condition
      • 0.068% fail on Sub-frame
        • 0.068% fail on Sub-frame condition
    • 0.55% fail on Transmission (74% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.34% fail on Drive shafts (80% better than other 1990 cars)
        • 0.34% fail on Joints (80% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.21% fail on Prop shafts
        • 0.14% fail on Flexible couplings
        • 0.068% fail on Prop shaft
    • 0.48% fail on Seats
      • 0.48% fail on Driver's seat
    • 0.27% fail on Doors
      • 0.21% fail on Other passenger's door
        • 0.14% fail on Door condition
        • 0.068% fail on Catch
      • 0.068% fail on Front passenger's door
        • 0.068% fail on Door condition
    • 0.21% fail on Body
      • 0.068% fail on Body condition
      • 0.068% fail on Panel
      • 0.068% fail on Other body component
    • 0.21% fail on Floor
    • 0.068% fail on Engine mounting
      • 0.068% fail on Engine mounting condition
    • 0.068% fail on Cabs
      • 0.068% fail on Prescribed areas
  • 4.0% fail on Noise, emissions and leaks
    • 3.7% fail on Exhaust emissions
      • 3.6% fail on Spark ignition
        • 2.5% fail on Non catalyst emissions
        • 0.68% fail on Catalyst emissions
        • 0.48% fail on Emissions not tested
      • 0.068% fail on Compression ignition
        • 0.068% fail on On or after 01/07/2008
    • 0.34% fail on Fluid leaks
      • 0.27% fail on Engine oil leaks
      • 0.14% fail on Other leaks
  • 2.5% fail on Steering (37% better than other 1990 cars)
    • 1.2% fail on Steering gear
      • 1.1% fail on Steering rack
      • 0.068% fail on Operation
    • 0.68% fail on Steering linkage components (65% better than other 1990 cars)
      • 0.55% fail on Track rod end
      • 0.068% fail on Ball joint
      • 0.068% fail on Locking devices
    • 0.62% fail on Power steering
      • 0.27% fail on Operation
      • 0.21% fail on Pipes and hoses
      • 0.14% fail on Other components
      • 0.068% fail on Rams
    • 0.068% fail on Prescribed areas
    • 0.068% fail on Steering wheel
    • 0.068% fail on Steering coupling
      • 0.068% fail on Flexible coupling
  • 2.3% fail on Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems
    • 2.3% fail on Seat belts
      • 1.6% fail on Prescribed areas
      • 0.55% fail on Condition
      • 0.21% fail on Attachment
  • 1.8% fail on Tyres
    • 1.2% fail on Condition
    • 0.89% fail on Tread depth
  • 0.55% fail on Identification of the vehicle
    • 0.55% fail on Registration plates
  • 0.21% fail on Road Wheels
    • 0.21% fail on Attachment
  • 0.068% fail on Speedometer and speed limiter
    • 0.068% fail on Speedometer

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