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R98 PAE

1997 BMW 540

Black Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Dec 2026
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

210,120 mi
Last recorded210,120 miles
Recorded on12 Dec 2025
Typical for 1997 BMW 540117,944 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR98 PAE
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1997
ColourBlack
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

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 12 Dec 2025 210,120 miles

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 11 Dec 2024 207,662 miles

Handbrake has little reserve travel

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

Fail 11 Dec 2024 207,650 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Handbrake has little reserve travel

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 15 Dec 2023 205,182 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2022 197,795 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2020 188,582 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2017 188,086 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated all (3.6.B.4d)

Oil leak ()

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both rear, both have perishing cracks (4.1.E.1)

brake pipes hidden behind under-trays, not inspected

engine covers and under-trays fitted obscuring some components

nearside rear and offside rear inner sills corroded, plastic outer sill covers fitted

Fail 4 Dec 2017 188,082 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid recheck wipers (8.2.3)

Nearside front brake binding recheck tyre and wheel bearing (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Brake hose slightly deteriorated all (3.6.B.4d)

Oil leak ()

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both rear, both have perishing cracks (4.1.E.1)

brake pipes hidden behind under-trays, not inspected

engine covers and under-trays fitted obscuring some components

nearside rear and offside rear inner sills corroded, plastic outer sill covers fitted

Pass 8 Dec 2016 187,753 miles

both rear tyre tread depth 2mm, legal limit 1.6mm

engine covers and under-trays fitted obscuring some components

nearside front and offside front brake hoses starting to deteriorate

nearside rear inner and outer sills corroded

where front to rear brake pipes hidden behind under-tray, not inspected

Fail 6 Dec 2016 187,753 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device missing (7.2.4a)

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

Offside Outer Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

both rear tyre tread depth 2mm, legal limit 1.6mm

engine covers and under-trays fitted obscuring some components

nearside front and offside front brake hoses starting to deteriorate

nearside rear brake pipe corroded

nearside rear inner and outer sills corroded

offside inner [front to rear] brake pipe corroded

where front to rear brake pipes hidden behind under-tray, not inspected

Pass 26 Nov 2015 183,617 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

both rear brake pipes corroded

engine covers and under-trays fitted obscuring some components

front to rear brake pipes hidden behind under-trays, not inspected

Pass 2 Dec 2014 180,134 miles

front to rear brake pipes hidden behind under-trays so not inspected

Fail 27 Nov 2014 180,122 miles

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)

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

front to rear brake pipes hidden behind under-trays so not inspected

Pass 7 Jan 2014 175,555 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2012 168,519 miles
Fail 20 Dec 2012 168,519 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously deteriorated, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Offside Rear coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

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

Pass 18 Jan 2012 162,485 miles

Offside Obligatory mirror deteriorated, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Pass 11 Jan 2011 156,102 miles
Pass 6 Jan 2010 151,435 miles

Advise o/s/r number plate bulb slightly dim.

Advise rear number plate is starting to deteriorate.

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

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

Advise aftermarket HID(xenon) headlamp kit is fitted with no apparent self levelling device.

Fail 4 Jan 2010 151,435 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Advise o/s/r number plate bulb slightly dim.

Advise rear number plate is starting to deteriorate.

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Advise aftermarket HID(xenon) headlamp kit is fitted with no apparent self levelling device.

Pass 16 Jan 2009 147,472 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2008 143,344 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2007 138,157 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2006 131,067 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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R98 PAE is a 1997 BMW 540 in Black with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 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 R98 PAE, 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 R98 PAE?

You can check the full history of R98 PAE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R98 PAE registered?

R98 PAE is a 1997 BMW 540, first registered on 19 August 1997.

Is R98 PAE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R98 PAE shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R98 PAE 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 R98 PAE. 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.