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M50 VLS

2001 BMW 540

Green Petrol 4398cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Feb 2027
Tests33 (21 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

178,514 mi
Last recorded178,514 miles
Recorded on10 Feb 2026
Typical for 2001 BMW 540106,299 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM50 VLS
MakeBMW
Model540
Year2001
ColourGreen
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

21 pass 12 fail
Pass 10 Feb 2026 178,514 miles

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

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

Fail 9 Feb 2026 178,514 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Fail 12 Dec 2025 178,405 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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 16 Dec 2024 173,263 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 16 Oct 2024 173,155 miles

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

Offside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 24 Oct 2023 163,700 miles

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

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

Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 21 Oct 2022

Nearside Front Power steering ram has slight seepage from a joint (2.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 7 Oct 2022

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play to drop arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Power steering ram has slight seepage from a joint (2.1.5 (a))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 21 Sep 2021

Fluid leak, but not excessive power steering pipes / hoses area.... (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 14 Sep 2021

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner and outer sill....same as above.... (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively twisted fouling on suspension on lock.... (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner and outer sill (note is covered in plastic trims.) (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive power steering pipes / hoses area.... (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Sep 2020

Handbrake effort only just passed....

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive Power steering pipe / hose areas.... (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 9 Sep 2020

Nearside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen jets.... (3.5 (a))

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

Offside Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear door mirror glass totaly delaminated..... (3.3 (c))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively split.... (3.4 (b) (ii))

Handbrake effort only just passed....

Hydraulic leak, but not excessive Power steering pipe / hose areas.... (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Sep 2019

Nearside Power steering component has slight seepage from a component return pipe slight oil leak (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 4 Sep 2019

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

Nearside Power steering component has slight seepage from a component return pipe slight oil leak (2.1.5 (a))

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

Pass 30 Aug 2018

Front 2 x brake discs slightly worn inner surfaces....

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rearmost link arm outer dust cover .... (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside door mirror glass deteriorated....

Fail 29 Aug 2018

Headlamp aim too low ref; to above.... (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced dip beam (reflector is totaly loose.) (4.1.4 (a))

Front 2 x brake discs slightly worn inner surfaces....

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated rearmost link arm outer dust cover .... (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside door mirror glass deteriorated....

Pass 29 Aug 2017

Nearside Front Nail in tyre ()

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit inner worn shoulder / outer perished shoulder.... (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front tyre also perished shoulder....

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

Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt rearmost outer dust cover perished.... (2.4.G.2)

Offside door mirror glass delaminated....

Oil leak ()

Pass 1 Sep 2016 120,306 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2016 120,306 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid all jets inoperative and water leaks offside front and near jets. (8.2.3)

Pass 5 Sep 2015 119,218 miles

parking brake efficiency only just met....

Pass 3 Sep 2014 115,039 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2013 111,370 miles
Fail 29 Aug 2013 111,320 miles

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)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Pass 8 Aug 2012 107,431 miles

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

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 25 Aug 2011 102,049 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2011 102,009 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Pass 20 Aug 2010 95,899 miles
Pass 21 Aug 2009 93,616 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2008 85,191 miles

Oil leak

cuts in both front tyres outer sidewalls

rear pads low

underbody covers fitted

Pass 26 Sep 2007 81,004 miles

rear pads low

sill covers fitted

surface rust on exhaust

Pass 25 Sep 2007 81,004 miles

rear pads wearing low

sill covers fitted

surface rust on exhaust

Pass 28 Sep 2006 71,217 miles
Fail 27 Sep 2006 71,217 miles

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

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

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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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.

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M50 VLS is a 2001 BMW 540 in Green with a 4,398cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 33 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

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 M50 VLS, 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 M50 VLS?

You can check the full history of M50 VLS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M50 VLS registered?

M50 VLS is a 2001 BMW 540, first registered on 7 March 2001.

Is M50 VLS safe to buy?

The MOT history for M50 VLS shows 33 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M50 VLS 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 M50 VLS. 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.