CarVerify

Free Car Check

R715 VSM

1998 BMW 540

Blue Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires5 Feb 2016
Tests12 (6 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

127,655 mi
Last recorded127,655 miles
Recorded on6 Feb 2015
Typical for 1998 BMW 540116,079 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

RegistrationR715 VSM
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

6 pass 6 fail
Pass 6 Feb 2015 127,655 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 3 Feb 2015 127,556 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 7 Jan 2015 127,528 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)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

front inner arch linners missing-undertrays loose

Fail 13 Nov 2014 127,502 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)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting fractured (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)

Pass 9 Nov 2013 121,670 miles

vehicle to low for roller brake test

Pass 25 Oct 2012

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fail 22 Oct 2012

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 1 Feb 2008 115,110 miles
Fail 28 Jan 2008 115,009 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 23 Mar 2007 108,912 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Fail 20 Mar 2007

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 17 Oct 2006 105,975 miles

front discs slighly corroded

near-side front tyre worn on inner edge

off-side front brake-pipe corroded

slight play in rear drop-links

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R715 VSM is a 1998 BMW 540 in Blue with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 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 R715 VSM, 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 R715 VSM?

You can check the full history of R715 VSM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R715 VSM registered?

R715 VSM is a 1998 BMW 540, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R715 VSM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R715 VSM shows 12 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R715 VSM 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 R715 VSM. 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.