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R503 ABK

1997 BMW 740

Blue Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Feb 2027
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

123,158 mi
Last recorded123,158 miles
Recorded on12 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 BMW 740119,456 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR503 ABK
MakeBMW
Model740
Year1997
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 3 fail
Pass 12 Feb 2026 123,158 miles

Nearside Inner steering link arm bush worn

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

Pass 28 Jan 2025 120,871 miles

Nearside Inner steering linkage pin or bush worn

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

Pass 7 Feb 2024 117,983 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

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

Pass 31 Oct 2022 117,813 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2021 117,645 miles
Fail 17 Sep 2021 117,645 miles

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 8 Feb 2020 117,132 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2020 117,132 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 12 Feb 2019 113,250 miles

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

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

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

Pass 10 Feb 2018 105,428 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush rear arm (2.4.G.2)

Brake hose slightly deteriorated both rears (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 6 Feb 2017 102,078 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit ON OUTER EDGE (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 5 Feb 2016 100,756 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2015 98,441 miles

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

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

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

Fail 24 Jan 2015 98,419 miles

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

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

Pass 1 Feb 2014 77,006 miles
Pass 28 Jan 2013 95,660 miles
Pass 29 Dec 2011 94,317 miles

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

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

Oil leak

front discs deteriorated

Pass 6 Nov 2010 92,389 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2009 88,488 miles

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

water pump leaking and loose front brake discs lipped and worn rear brakes pads very low and brake discs lipped wiper arm judderind slight play in steering box

Pass 9 Sep 2008 83,913 miles

front and rear brake pads low

Pass 13 Sep 2007 79,098 miles

Nearside Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

Pass 12 Sep 2006 73,596 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2006 73,410 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

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R503 ABK is a 1997 BMW 740 in Blue with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

Across all 1997 BMW 740 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.6% with a typical mileage of 119,456 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 R503 ABK, 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 29 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 R503 ABK?

You can check the full history of R503 ABK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R503 ABK registered?

R503 ABK is a 1997 BMW 740, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R503 ABK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R503 ABK shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R503 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 R503 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.