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B8 DNW

1997 BMW 540

Green Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Jan 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

204,145 mi
Last recorded204,145 miles
Recorded on20 Jan 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationB8 DNW
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,398cc
View full BMW 540 reliability data

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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 20 Jan 2026 204,145 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Transmission (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Fail 13 Jan 2026 204,145 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting Floor Pan/InnerSill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Transmission (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Wipers Run Contstantly

Pass 9 Dec 2024 204,072 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Dec 2023 201,706 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Dec 2022 195,867 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 14 Dec 2022 195,867 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Aug 2020 193,077 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2019 191,618 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

poor beam patterns headlights

Fail 16 Aug 2019 191,618 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

poor beam patterns headlights

Pass 24 Aug 2018 186,879 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2018 186,852 miles

Front All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible both (4.1.4 (c))

Nearside Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Fail 27 Feb 2018 186,641 miles

Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

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

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

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

Pass 15 Feb 2017 182,442 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 13 Feb 2017 182,442 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 8 Feb 2016 176,176 miles

Centre exhaust rattling

Nearside Front steering arm worn

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

engine oil leaks

Pass 12 Feb 2015 173,720 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Oil leak

Fail 5 Feb 2015 173,720 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Oil leak

Pass 29 Jan 2014 169,312 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 22 Jan 2014 169,312 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Upper 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 Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 4 Feb 2013 162,053 miles

Rear Brake pipe repaired, but not inappropriately (3.6.A.3)

Fail 25 Jan 2013 162,052 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 17 Jan 2012 4,398 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 17 Jan 2011 136,888 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 19 Jan 2010 122,340 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

o/s/f seat-belt starting to fray

Pass 14 Jan 2009 106,630 miles

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

Fail 14 Jan 2009 106,629 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 23 Jan 2008 92,314 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2007 92,250 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 22 May 2007 88,620 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 22 May 2007 88,620 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 12 May 2006 79,597 miles
Fail 12 May 2006 79,597 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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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.

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B8 DNW is a 1997 BMW 540 in Green with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 B8 DNW, 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 B8 DNW?

You can check the full history of B8 DNW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B8 DNW registered?

B8 DNW is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 14 November 1997.

Is B8 DNW safe to buy?

The MOT history for B8 DNW shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B8 DNW 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 B8 DNW. 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.