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P278 RUW

1996 BMW 740

Grey Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires20 Nov 2016
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

182,481 mi
Last recorded182,481 miles
Recorded on21 Nov 2015
Typical for 1996 BMW 740127,843 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP278 RUW
MakeBMW
Model740
Year1996
ColourGrey
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

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 21 Nov 2015 182,481 miles

Offside of petrol tank corroding

Oil leak

Both door mirror glasses deteriorating

Exhaust emissions fluctuates

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint outer (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint outer (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Nov 2015 182,481 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Both door mirror glasses deteriorating

Exhaust emissions fluctuates

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint outer (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint outer (2.4.G.2)

Offside of petrol tank corroding

Oil leak

Pass 2 Sep 2014 158,384 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly chafed (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 3 Sep 2013 147,006 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2012 140,456 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2011 132,366 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2010 124,659 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2009 117,921 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Oil leak

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

Fail 7 Aug 2009 117,921 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

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

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Oil leak

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

Pass 20 Aug 2008 112,240 miles

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

plastic under engine/body covers fitted

Pass 21 Aug 2007 103,547 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2007 103,256 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 5 Aug 2006 76,145 miles

How Reliable is the BMW 740?

Based on 66,909 MOT tests across 7,677 vehicles.

77.7%
Pass Rate
5,446
Miles/Year
34
Year Lifespan
7,677
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,288
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 1,736
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,281
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,245
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,224
Full BMW 740 reliability report

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P278 RUW is a 1996 BMW 740 in Grey with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1996 BMW 740 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.5% with a typical mileage of 127,843 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a BMW 740 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 2,288 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P278 RUW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 740 typically stays on UK roads for around 34 years. At 30 years old, this BMW 740 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P278 RUW?

You can check the full history of P278 RUW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P278 RUW registered?

P278 RUW is a 1996 BMW 740, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P278 RUW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P278 RUW shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P278 RUW 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 P278 RUW. 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.