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P386 POW

1996 BMW 540

Green Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Nov 2026
Tests26 (17 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate65.4%

Mileage

164,971 mi
Last recorded164,971 miles
Recorded on13 Oct 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 540125,563 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP386 POW
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1996
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

17 pass 9 fail
Pass 13 Oct 2025 164,971 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both outer sills/ jacking points (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair parkbrake (1.2.1 (c))

Pass 31 Oct 2024 163,914 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play front arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair parkbrake (1.2.1 (c))

Side repeater slightly discoloured both sides (4.4.3 (a))

Pass 7 Nov 2023 159,154 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair parkbrake (1.2.1 (c))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp does not illuminate airbag (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 10 Nov 2022 146,330 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 1 Nov 2022 146,315 miles

Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 9 Nov 2021 144,663 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2021 144,640 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn T.C.A. bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn T.C.A. bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front headlamp has water ingress

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 2 Oct 2020 141,775 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2020 141,761 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle wheel arch liner (5.2.3 (f))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Fluid leaking continuously posing a serious risk to road safety coolant (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

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

centre brake light not working

Pass 31 Jan 2019 141,759 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Pass 15 Nov 2016 139,956 miles

both inner sills very rusty

both wipers poor

n/s/f lower ball joint dust cover poor (rear)

o/s/f lower ball joint dust cover poor (front)

sill covers fitted

Fail 29 Sep 2016 139,885 miles

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

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 22 Sep 2015 134,475 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim inner and outer rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

Nearside Rear Inner sill panel corroded

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

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

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim outer rim (4.2.A.1a)

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

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

Offside Rear Inner sill panel corroded

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

sill covers fitted

Pass 2 Oct 2014 130,211 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 20 Sep 2013 126,341 miles

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

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror deteriorated, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Fail 19 Sep 2013 126,341 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

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

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror deteriorated, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Pass 14 Sep 2012 122,681 miles

boot catch broken

Fail 12 Sep 2012 122,681 miles

Offside 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 Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

boot catvh broken

Pass 21 Sep 2011 118,560 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2011 118,552 miles

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

Pass 17 Sep 2010 112,156 miles

front no plate marked

front pads on limit

Pass 5 Mar 2009 100,495 miles
Pass 16 Aug 2008 92,839 miles
Fail 16 Aug 2008 92,831 miles

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Pass 15 Aug 2007 85,116 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2007 85,116 miles

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

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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P386 POW is a 1996 BMW 540 in Green with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.4%.

Across all 1996 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.2% with a typical mileage of 125,563 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 P386 POW, 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 30 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 P386 POW?

You can check the full history of P386 POW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P386 POW registered?

P386 POW is a 1996 BMW 540, first registered on 27 November 1996.

Is P386 POW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P386 POW shows 26 tests with a 65.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P386 POW 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 P386 POW. 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.