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P161 DBV

1997 BMW 540

Green Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 Aug 2010
Tests9 (4 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate44.4%

Mileage

185,723 mi
Last recorded185,723 miles
Recorded on8 Oct 2010
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP161 DBV
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

4 pass 5 fail
Fail 8 Oct 2010 185,723 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)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

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

squeaking from lower ball joints but no play detected

Fail 24 Aug 2010 185,701 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

Pass 8 Aug 2009 179,999 miles

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

steering idler noisey

Fail 22 Jul 2009 179,988 miles

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

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 Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

n/s steering idler noisey

Pass 23 Jul 2008 170,525 miles

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)

Fail 30 Jun 2008 169,491 miles

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

2 front tyres wearing on edge

Pass 3 Jul 2007 163,486 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2006 156,035 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2006 156,035 miles

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

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

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

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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P161 DBV is a 1997 BMW 540 in Green with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 44.4%.

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 P161 DBV, 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 P161 DBV?

You can check the full history of P161 DBV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P161 DBV registered?

P161 DBV is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 1 January 1997.

Is P161 DBV safe to buy?

The MOT history for P161 DBV shows 9 tests with a 44.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P161 DBV 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 P161 DBV. 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.