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M282 BTU

1994 BMW 540

Green Petrol 3982cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Jun 2027
Tests19 (10 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate52.6%

Mileage

194,052 mi
Last recorded194,052 miles
Recorded on17 Jun 2026
Typical for 1994 BMW 540139,134 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this BMW
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM282 BTU
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1994
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,982cc

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

10 pass 9 fail
Pass 17 Jun 2026 194,052 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front arm ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All tires (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 16 Jun 2026 194,052 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front arm ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All tires (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 12 Dec 2024 194,018 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Emissions unable to be completed emissions test aborted, exhaust temperature extreme at catalytic converters (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing All 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 8 Sep 2017 192,346 miles

Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush nearside & offside front suspension arm bushes have slight play (rear arms) (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside & offside rear outer disc surfaces deteriorated/surface corrosion (3.5.1i)

Rear exhaust deteriorated and showing sign of corrosion repairs

body underside particularly sills corroded and showing evidence of previous corrosion repairs

sill covers fitted preventing full inspection of outer sills

Fail 6 Sep 2017 192,325 miles

Emissions not tested emission test aborted due to engine overheating (7.3.A.1)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt ball joint dust cover split (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded floor pan by brake pipe mounting bracket excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush nearside & offside front suspension arm bushes have slight play (rear arms) (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside & offside rear outer disc surfaces deteriorated/surface corrosion (3.5.1i)

Rear exhaust deteriorated and showing sign of corrosion repairs

body underside particularly sills corroded and showing evidence of previous corrosion repairs

sill covers fitted preventing full inspection of outer sills

Fail 19 Jul 2017 192,321 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

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

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

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on does not operate continuously on position one (8.2.1b)

fuel evap pipe corroded and broken above rear axle

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

Pass 4 Aug 2016 189,975 miles

CORROSION ON NEARSIDE & OFFSIDE FRONT FLOOR TO SILLS

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

PLASTIC COVER SILLS FITTED

Fail 3 Aug 2016 189,975 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play IDLER (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

CORROSION ON NEARSIDE & OFFSIDE FRONT FLOOR TO SILLS

Fuel Pipe/s corroded

PLASTIC COVER SILLS FITTED

Pass 7 Apr 2015 189,682 miles

Coolant leak

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

sill covers fitted

Fail 2 Apr 2015 189,679 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Coolant leak

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

sill covers fitted

Fail 30 Oct 2012 175,562 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Front Steering system has a road wheel fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Nearside Front Torque/reaction arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Front Steering system has a road wheel fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 13 Oct 2011 105,384 miles

Offside Rear Macpherson strut modified but not seriously weakened (2.4.A.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Fail 10 Oct 2011 150,384 miles

Nearside Rear Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Macpherson strut modified but not seriously weakened (2.4.A.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 16 Aug 2010 145,937 miles

Offside Front Steering column flexible coupling is slightly deteriorated (2.1.5)

Fail 16 Aug 2010 145,937 miles

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

Offside Front Steering column flexible coupling is slightly deteriorated (2.1.5)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 10 Aug 2009 136,895 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt flexible stalk deteriorated but not likely to lead to failure under load (5.2.4a)

Pass 3 Jul 2008 131,768 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2007 127,786 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2006 124,152 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

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M282 BTU is a 1994 BMW 540 in Green with a 3,982cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 52.6%.

Across all 1994 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.5% with a typical mileage of 139,134 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 M282 BTU, 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 32 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 M282 BTU?

You can check the full history of M282 BTU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M282 BTU registered?

M282 BTU is a 1994 BMW 540, first registered on 5 August 1994.

Is M282 BTU safe to buy?

The MOT history for M282 BTU shows 19 tests with a 52.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M282 BTU 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 M282 BTU. 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.