CarVerify

Free Car Check

YG51 ZSH

2001 BMW 540

Silver Petrol 4398cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

139,239 mi
Last recorded139,239 miles
Recorded on30 Apr 2026
Typical for 2001 BMW 540106,299 mi

Above 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

RegistrationYG51 ZSH
MakeBMW
Model540
Year2001
ColourSilver
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

19 pass 10 fail
Pass 30 Apr 2026 139,239 miles

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

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

Fail 20 Apr 2026 139,128 miles

Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

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

Pass 30 Apr 2025 133,875 miles

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

Fail 30 Apr 2025 133,875 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 1 May 2024 127,794 miles
Fail 2 May 2023 127,734 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective cap seal perished beyond seal (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Intermediate drop arm insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

fuel pipe corroding

parking brake only just made 16%

Pass 3 May 2022 124,141 miles

fuel pipes perishing

Nearside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Steering linkage 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))

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

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Fail 25 Apr 2022 124,135 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp reflector seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Steering linkage 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))

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

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

fuel pipes perishing

Fail 4 Apr 2022 124,119 miles

Nearside Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible (4.1.4 (c))

Offside Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible (4.1.4 (c))

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

fuel pipe perishing

Pass 7 Apr 2021 121,886 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

engine oil leak

fuel pipe started to corrode

Fail 7 Apr 2021 121,886 miles

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault fault code read and erased (7.1.6 (a))

engine oil leak

fuel pipe started to corrode

Pass 26 Mar 2020 119,849 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))

Pass 13 Apr 2019 116,833 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2018 113,619 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2018 113,619 miles

Nearside Front brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Pass 1 Dec 2016 109,510 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2015 103,771 miles

Fuel pipes corroded

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt front arm outer ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak from engine,gear box & rear diff

Fail 1 Dec 2015 103,768 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt outer ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush hub bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt outer ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Fuel pipes corroded

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

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt front arm outer ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak from engine,gear box & rear diff

Pass 10 Dec 2014 96,913 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 9 Dec 2013 91,520 miles

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

Fail 9 Dec 2013 91,520 miles

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage fractured (2.4.G.1)

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

Pass 10 Dec 2012 84,764 miles

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 19 Dec 2011 78,958 miles

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)

Pass 2 Nov 2010 72,032 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2009 63,241 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2009 63,241 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 16 Jul 2008 53,959 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Jul 2007 47,298 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2006 42,513 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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

YG51 ZSH is a 2001 BMW 540 in Silver with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

Across all 2001 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.0% with a typical mileage of 106,299 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 YG51 ZSH, 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 25 years old, this BMW 540 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of YG51 ZSH?

You can check the full history of YG51 ZSH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YG51 ZSH registered?

YG51 ZSH is a 2001 BMW 540, first registered on 3 December 2001.

Is YG51 ZSH safe to buy?

The MOT history for YG51 ZSH shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YG51 ZSH 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 YG51 ZSH. 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.