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R399 ABK

1998 BMW 540

Blue Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Mar 2027
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

205,145 mi
Last recorded205,145 miles
Recorded on7 Mar 2026
Typical for 1998 BMW 540116,079 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR399 ABK
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 7 Mar 2026 205,145 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess (1.1.15 (a))

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

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

Pass 8 Mar 2025 201,463 miles

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

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

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

Pass 11 Mar 2024 197,461 miles

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

Front Coil spring corroded Nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 5 Mar 2024 197,453 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 Lower Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Front of wheel (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Front Coil spring corroded Nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 15 Mar 2023 193,294 miles
Pass 15 Mar 2022 192,439 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2021 190,108 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both main-line pipes to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 19 Dec 2019 188,375 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2019 187,380 miles

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

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

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

Fail 8 Jan 2019 187,372 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front outer damage

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

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

Pass 1 Feb 2018 180,176 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2017 171,428 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2016 166,138 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2014 155,005 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2014 150,625 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2013 150,623 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 5 Apr 2012 150,287 miles

airbag light on

oil leak

rear drop links

Fail 30 Mar 2012 150,279 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 linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

air bag light on!

engine oil leaks!

Pass 2 Apr 2011 145,469 miles

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

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

Nearside Outer Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

air bag light on

n/s headlamp beam pattern flat

Fail 8 Jan 2011 145,459 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 Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

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

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

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

Nearside Outer Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Outer Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

headlamp beam pattern flat n/s

Pass 12 Jan 2010 141,727 miles
Fail 5 Jan 2010 141,716 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)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

oil filter mounts broken

Pass 15 Oct 2008 137,076 miles

Oil leak

air bag light on constantly

all four tyres wearing on edges

rear brake discs slightly worn

wet day

Pass 19 Sep 2007 135,291 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2007 135,279 miles

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Oil leak

SRS (airbag) Warning lamp on

Pass 6 Oct 2006 125,063 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2005 111,072 miles

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.

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R399 ABK is a 1998 BMW 540 in Blue with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

Across all 1998 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.2% with a typical mileage of 116,079 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 R399 ABK, 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 28 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 R399 ABK?

You can check the full history of R399 ABK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R399 ABK registered?

R399 ABK is a 1998 BMW 540, first registered on 19 May 1998.

Is R399 ABK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R399 ABK shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R399 ABK 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 R399 ABK. 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.