CarVerify

Free Car Check

B13 YLY

1997 BMW 540

Silver Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Sep 2014
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

135,903 mi
Last recorded135,903 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2013
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationB13 YLY
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,398cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

8 pass 5 fail
Pass 9 Sep 2013 135,903 miles
Fail 28 Aug 2013 135,903 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Oil leak

Pass 26 Sep 2012 131,597 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2012 131,607 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Air bag light on

Front brake pads low

Oil leak

Rear handbrake effort readings not even

Fail 18 Sep 2012 131,597 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

air bag light on

both front lower arm bushes worn

exhaust noisy

offside rear lower arm/ball joint slight play

Pass 14 Sep 2011 126,383 miles

exhaust noisey and cat rattling

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 4 Nov 2010 119,871 miles

Oil leak

Fail 28 Oct 2010 119,743 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Oil leak

Pass 18 Sep 2009 109,029 miles

Advise: o/s number plate light getting dim.

Pass 14 Oct 2008 95,666 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2007 93,802 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2007 93,752 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 26 Sep 2006 90,317 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 540?

Based on 50,016 MOT tests across 4,152 vehicles.

71.9%
Pass Rate
4,801
Miles/Year
33
Year Lifespan
4,152
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,881
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,341
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,599
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,360
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,334
Full BMW 540 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

B13 YLY is a 1997 BMW 540 in Silver with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

Across all 1997 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.9% with a typical mileage of 117,944 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 540 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,881 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B13 YLY, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 540 typically stays on UK roads for around 33 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 540 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B13 YLY?

You can check the full history of B13 YLY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B13 YLY registered?

B13 YLY is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is B13 YLY safe to buy?

The MOT history for B13 YLY shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B13 YLY have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on B13 YLY. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.