MOT performance
1999 BMW 3 Series: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 5,796 MOT tests on 1999-registered BMW 3 Seriess in 2023–2024 (on average 24 years old at test, median 111,143 miles), 64.9% passed first time, 10 points lower than the BMW 3 Series overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 1999 BMW 3 Seriess failed 6% less often than comparable cars.
5,796 MOT tests on 3,382 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 64.9% | ±1.2 pts (95%), n = 5,796 |
| All BMW 3 Seriess | 74.9% | n = 1,007,360 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.94× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 7.8% | n = 5,796 |
| Average age at test | 24 years | n = 5,796 |
Where 1999 BMW 3 Seriess fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 14.2% | -14% |
| Suspension | 13.6% | +4% |
| Brakes | 11.6% | -4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.7% | -27% |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.1% | -9% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 5.8% | +73% |
| Tyres | 5.0% | +11% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.6% | -46% |
| Steering | 1.9% | -42% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.6% | -19% |
| Road wheels | 0.6% | +89% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault | Seat belts and airbags | 4.62% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 3.47% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 3.35% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 2.59% |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.50% |
Check a specific 1999 BMW 3 Series
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.