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R961 BCL

1997 BMW 540

Black Petrol 3982cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires24 Jan 2013
Tests13 (7 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate53.8%

Mileage

191,951 mi
Last recorded191,951 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2012
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR961 BCL
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,982cc

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

7 pass 6 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2012 191,951 miles
Fail 12 Jan 2012 191,951 miles

Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 19 Jan 2011 185,133 miles
Fail 14 Jan 2011 185,036 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (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)

Pass 25 Jan 2010 177,798 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2010 177,795 miles

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

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 14 Jan 2009 166,240 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front to rear fuel pipes corroding

Fail 12 Jan 2009 166,240 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Rear Fluid suspension levelling valve leaking (2.4.D.2)

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Front to rear fuel pipes corroding

Pass 22 Jan 2008 155,101 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2008 155,100 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Track rod end loose (2.2.B.1d)

high level brake light has some bulb failures

Pass 25 Jan 2007 144,070 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2007 144,070 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 19 Sep 2005 137,030 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

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R961 BCL is a 1997 BMW 540 in Black with a 3,982cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.8%.

Across all 1997 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.9% with a typical mileage of 117,944 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 R961 BCL, 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 29 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 R961 BCL?

You can check the full history of R961 BCL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R961 BCL registered?

R961 BCL is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 8 October 1997.

Is R961 BCL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R961 BCL shows 13 tests with a 53.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R961 BCL 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 R961 BCL. 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.