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Bmw Z3 - 1997

337.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Bmw Z3, model year 1997. Sample size: 1,806 cars, 3,745 tests and 12,626 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,806 cars

The 1997 BMW Z3 has an overall defect rate of 337 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the average for cars of the same year at 335 per 100. This model shows significant mileage-related trends, with defect rates increasing notably as mileage increases, especially beyond 124,000 miles. Notably, the Z3 excels in steering, body/structure, and equipment defects, with rates significantly lower than the average. However, it performs worse in brakes, showing a defect rate of 196 per 100 compared to the average of 141 per 100.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,806 cars

More model years for Bmw Z3

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Other models from Bmw

Bmw 114 Bmw 116 Bmw 118 Bmw 120 Bmw 123 Bmw 125 Bmw 216 Bmw 218 Bmw 220 Bmw 316 Bmw 318 Bmw 320 Bmw 330 Bmw 335 Bmw 418 Bmw 420 Bmw 428 Bmw 430 Bmw 435 Bmw 440 Bmw 518 Bmw 520 Bmw 523 Bmw 525 Bmw 528 Bmw 530 Bmw 535 Bmw 630 Bmw 640 Bmw 645 Bmw 650 Bmw 728 Bmw 730 Bmw 740 Bmw 840 Bmw ALPINA Bmw I3 Bmw I4 Bmw IX3 Bmw M2 Bmw M3 Bmw M340D Bmw M4 Bmw M5 Bmw M6 Bmw X1 Bmw X2 Bmw X3 Bmw X4 Bmw X5 Bmw X6 Bmw X7 Bmw Z3 Bmw Z4

Categories

Brakes
▼ 38.8% worse
195.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 47.8% better
14.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 11.9% better
22.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 2.7% better
63.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • 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
▼ 3.6% worse
259.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 46.4% better
44.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 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
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 38.5% better
13.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 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
  • 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
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Audible warning:
Other
▲ 1.8% better
59.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 567 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: 1,277
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 950
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 853
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 667
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 658
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 576
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 541
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 400
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 392
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 341

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 204
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 199
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 139
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 135
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 128
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 109
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 107
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 97
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 76