CarVerify

Free Car Check

P213 RAG

1997 BMW 540

Black Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Oct 2011
Tests10 (5 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

190,212 mi
Last recorded190,212 miles
Recorded on8 Nov 2011
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP213 RAG
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

5 pass 5 fail
Fail 8 Nov 2011 190,212 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Oil leak

Suspension joint nearside lower dust cover split/missing

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

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

airbag light illuminated

all brakes pipes starting to corrode

Pass 1 Nov 2010 182,325 miles
Fail 1 Nov 2010 182,325 miles

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

Fail 4 Sep 2010 182,290 miles

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

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

Pass 22 Aug 2009 171,763 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Sep 2008 164,351 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Non obligatory mirror damaged

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (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)

Fail 3 Sep 2008 164,351 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Non obligatory mirror damaged

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 13 Aug 2007 153,260 miles
Pass 8 May 2006 139,344 miles
Fail 4 May 2006 139,339 miles

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

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

P213 RAG is a 1997 BMW 540 in Black with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 P213 RAG, 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 P213 RAG?

You can check the full history of P213 RAG by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P213 RAG registered?

P213 RAG is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 1 April 1997.

Is P213 RAG safe to buy?

The MOT history for P213 RAG shows 10 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P213 RAG 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 P213 RAG. 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.