CarVerify

Free Car Check

P354 ECE

1997 BMW 540

Black Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires26 Feb 2016
Tests13 (7 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

131,842 mi
Last recorded131,842 miles
Recorded on27 Feb 2015
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Above 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationP354 ECE
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

7 pass 6 fail
Pass 27 Feb 2015 131,842 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2015 131,836 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)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

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

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 8 Jan 2014 127,114 miles
Fail 30 Dec 2013 127,100 miles

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

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

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

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Pass 17 Jul 2012 118,567 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage from a joint (2.3.3b)

Prior to mot new lambda sensor fitted.

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

rear diff weeping oil.

Fail 5 Jul 2012 117,956 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)

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

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

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

both rear brake discs surface corrosion

n/s/f headlamp beam cut off starting to fade

Pass 9 Dec 2010 110,105 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2010 109,780 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Dec 2009 109,601 miles

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

Pass 19 Jun 2007 103,795 miles

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

Fail 19 Jun 2007 103,795 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Jun 2006 93,614 miles

Nearside Rear 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 16 Jun 2006 93,485 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

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

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

air bag warning lamp staying on

cut in inner wall nearside front tyre

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

P354 ECE is a 1997 BMW 540 in Black with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

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 P354 ECE, 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 P354 ECE?

You can check the full history of P354 ECE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P354 ECE registered?

P354 ECE is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 13 June 1997.

Is P354 ECE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P354 ECE shows 13 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P354 ECE 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 P354 ECE. 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.