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Bmw M3 - 1998

161.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw M3, model year 1998. Sample size: 244 cars, 464 tests and 750 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 244 cars

The 1998 BMW M3 has an overall defect rate of 162 per 100 vehicles, significantly lower than the average of 339 per 100, marking a 52% improvement. The model shows increasing defect rates with mileage, especially in the 124,000+ miles category, but still performs better than average across most metrics. Notably, it excels in categories such as brakes, visibility, and body structure, with defects in these areas being much lower than the typical figures for the year. Overall, while tyre wear is a common issue generally, the M3 stands out positively in several important safety and mechanical aspects.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 244 cars

More model years for Bmw M3

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Bmw

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Categories

Brakes
▲ 45.8% better
81.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 24.2% better
19.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 54.0% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 42.4% better
38.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 58.2% better
107.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 85.0% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A floor: excessively deteriorated or insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • 6.1.1 (d) (i)
Equipment
▲ 68.1% better
6.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▲ 21.9% better
46.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 543 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 85
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 79
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 41
Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 31
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 26
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 25
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 22
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 17

Serious faults (Top 10)

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 5