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M555 HOW

1999 BMW 540

Silver Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires18 Dec 2024
Tests26 (18 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

150,974 mi
Last recorded150,974 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 2025
Typical for 1999 BMW 540107,004 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationM555 HOW
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1999
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

18 pass 8 fail
Fail 28 Mar 2025 150,974 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Integral body structure strengthening plate or fastening so insecure that structural rigidity is seriously reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Fuel hose deteriorated x2 front to rear (6.1.3 (c) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor pan drain plugs (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 19 Dec 2023 136,116 miles

ALL BRAKES CORRODED

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced SILL (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 10 Nov 2022 128,162 miles

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened corroded outer faces (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin approx 80% worn (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 29 Nov 2021 122,853 miles

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 3 Nov 2020 118,445 miles

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

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

Fail 2 Nov 2020 118,445 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2019 109,284 miles

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

Fail 4 Nov 2019 109,284 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside 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 1 Nov 2018 99,137 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly chafed (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge scrubbed on both edges (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 1 Nov 2018 99,136 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively twisted (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn outer ball joint on rearmost arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn outer ball joint on rearmost arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly chafed (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear exhaust silencer heat shield insecure

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge scrubbed on both edges (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 6 Nov 2017 93,679 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 31 Oct 2017 93,488 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 27 Oct 2016 86,205 miles

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

Fail 26 Oct 2016 86,205 miles

Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

rear brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 28 Oct 2015 76,031 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fail 27 Oct 2015 76,031 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement thrust arm (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement thrust arm (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

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

Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

both front tyres worn on edges

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

Pass 4 Nov 2014 62,212 miles
Pass 25 Oct 2013 60,450 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2012 59,358 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2011 57,625 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2010 53,317 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

both rear discs slightly corroded

Pass 24 Sep 2010 53,317 miles

both rear discs slightly corroded

Pass 8 May 2009
Pass 9 May 2008

brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 10 May 2007 39,212 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2006 37,402 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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M555 HOW is a 1999 BMW 540 in Silver with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

Across all 1999 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.8% with a typical mileage of 107,004 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 M555 HOW, 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 27 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 M555 HOW?

You can check the full history of M555 HOW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M555 HOW registered?

M555 HOW is a 1999 BMW 540, first registered on 1 March 1999.

Is M555 HOW safe to buy?

The MOT history for M555 HOW shows 26 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M555 HOW 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 M555 HOW. 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.