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P3 SRE

1996 BMW 540

Silver Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Sep 2026
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

190,057 mi
Last recorded190,057 miles
Recorded on3 Sep 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 540125,563 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP3 SRE
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1996
ColourSilver
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

19 pass 10 fail
Pass 3 Sep 2025 190,057 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated front arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm **BORDERLINE** (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm **BORDERLINE** (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 3 Sep 2025 190,057 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated front arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm **BORDERLINE** (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm **BORDERLINE** (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 2 Sep 2024 185,016 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated front arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm ***borderline*** (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 20 Aug 2024 184,832 miles

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak leaking above Y section rear section (8.2.1.1 (b))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated front arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm ***borderline*** (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 9 Sep 2023 179,718 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded **BORDERLINE ** (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive jacking point area (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated front arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rear arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 1 Sep 2022 174,297 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill jacking point area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill jacking point area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 9 Sep 2021 169,962 miles

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Fail 1 Sep 2021 169,631 miles

Offside Rear Road wheel fractured (5.2.2 (a)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 9 Sep 2020 163,244 miles

suspension very firm and set very low

Fail 7 Sep 2020 163,238 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (8.1.1 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged (1.1.11 (d) (ii))

EML Light inoperative

centre silencer leaking

suspension very firm and set very low

Pass 11 Jun 2019 157,558 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 10 May 2019 156,960 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 29 Jun 2018 154,581 miles

Front oil leak

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 20 Apr 2017 154,560 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2017 154,560 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 16 Jul 2016 154,491 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2016 154,375 miles

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

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

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Fail 19 Jun 2015 145,549 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

Oil leak

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 19 Jun 2015 145,549 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.2b)

Oil leak

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 12 Jul 2014 137,366 miles

Oil leak

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 22 Jun 2013 129,850 miles

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

Pass 25 Jun 2012 123,697 miles
Fail 21 Jun 2012 123,697 miles

Nearside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

Nearside and offside rear differential output shaft seals leaking

Offside front tyre has a cut on outerwall but not deep enough to reach the cords

Slight play on nearside sand offside rear drop links

Fail 22 Jun 2011 116,486 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 22 Jun 2011 116,486 miles
Pass 1 Jun 2010 113,528 miles

Slight play in nearside rear upper rear suspension arm outer balljoint.

Pass 26 Jun 2009 103,800 miles
Pass 23 Feb 2008 101,115 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 16 Dec 2006 95,593 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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P3 SRE is a 1996 BMW 540 in Silver with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

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 P3 SRE, 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 P3 SRE?

You can check the full history of P3 SRE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P3 SRE registered?

P3 SRE is a 1996 BMW 540, first registered on 20 November 1996.

Is P3 SRE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P3 SRE shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P3 SRE 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 P3 SRE. 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.