CarVerify

Free Car Check

P974 KWC

1996 BMW 740

Red Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Mar 2026
Tests25 (19 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76%

Mileage

104,011 mi
Last recorded104,011 miles
Recorded on14 Mar 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 740127,843 mi

Below or 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 £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

RegistrationP974 KWC
MakeBMW
Model740
Year1996
ColourRed
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 6 fail
Pass 14 Mar 2025 104,011 miles

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

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

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 22 Nov 2023 103,994 miles

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

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 22 Nov 2023 103,994 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Position lamp has a product on the lens or light source which changes the emitted colour (4.2.3 (b) (i))

Pass 21 Nov 2022 103,904 miles

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

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 21 Nov 2022 103,904 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 2 Dec 2021 103,817 miles

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Track rod end ball joint has slight play Slight play in nsf inner tie rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 2 Feb 2021 103,645 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Brake pipes front to rear covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner faces slightly corroded on both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Steering idler arm has slight play

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Slightly perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rose bush deteriorated (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Vehicle undertrays fitted obscuring view to underside.

Pass 4 Feb 2020 103,528 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Covered in grease front and rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Steering idler arm has slight play

Offside Rear Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn Rose bush deteriorated (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Tyre perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Vehicle Undertrays fitted obscuring view to underside

Pass 23 Jan 2019 103,391 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2018 103,226 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2018 103,225 miles

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

Front Direction indicator incorrect colour Both sides (1.4.A.2f)

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Both sides (2.2.C.1c)

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

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed Due to tyre being excessively perished (4.1.D.1b)

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

Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated Both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Oil leak ()

Fail 15 Jan 2018 103,183 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in an outer ball joint (2.5.B.2a)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

both front tyres perishing,under trays fitted,oil leak,wheel arch liners fitted front and rear,coil springs corroded

Pass 3 Nov 2016 102,728 miles

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear ytre perishing and cracking

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

Pass 6 Nov 2015 102,176 miles

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

Fail 2 Nov 2015 102,174 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2014 101,517 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2013 100,950 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Offside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Pass 9 Nov 2012 100,368 miles

cuts to near side front tyer wall

Pass 28 Oct 2011 99,780 miles
Pass 8 Nov 2010 95,578 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2009 90,769 miles
Fail 23 Oct 2009 90,769 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage 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)

Pass 4 Nov 2008 85,701 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2007 77,217 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2006 68,276 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

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

P974 KWC is a 1996 BMW 740 in Red with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76%.

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 P974 KWC, 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 P974 KWC?

You can check the full history of P974 KWC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P974 KWC registered?

P974 KWC is a 1996 BMW 740, first registered on 17 October 1996.

Is P974 KWC safe to buy?

The MOT history for P974 KWC shows 25 tests with a 76% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P974 KWC 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 P974 KWC. 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.