CarVerify

Free Car Check

M478 FDD

1994 BMW 540

Green Petrol 3982cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Jun 2027
Tests16 (10 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

152,912 mi
Last recorded152,912 miles
Recorded on20 Jun 2026
Typical for 1994 BMW 540139,134 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationM478 FDD
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 6 fail
Pass 20 Jun 2026 152,912 miles
Pass 3 May 2025 151,353 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 25 May 2024 150,812 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2014 148,880 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2014 148,880 miles

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 24 May 2011 148,851 miles
Fail 10 May 2011 148,851 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror missing (8.1.1)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Pass 6 May 2010 146,879 miles

Rear brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Pass 27 Apr 2009 145,114 miles

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

Fail 10 Feb 2009 143,790 miles

Nearside Rear Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

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

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 7 May 2008 141,139 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

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

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

Fail 7 May 2008 141,139 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

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

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

Pass 8 May 2007 137,808 miles
Fail 4 May 2007 137,808 miles

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

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

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

Pass 3 May 2006 132,695 miles

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

Fail 2 May 2006 132,695 miles

Front Steering column movement between the shaft and steering wheel (2.1.2b)

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

M478 FDD is a 1994 BMW 540 in Green with a 3,982cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 M478 FDD, 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 M478 FDD?

You can check the full history of M478 FDD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M478 FDD registered?

M478 FDD is a 1994 BMW 540, first registered on 12 August 1994.

Is M478 FDD safe to buy?

The MOT history for M478 FDD shows 16 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 M478 FDD 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 M478 FDD. 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.