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N145 BNF

1996 BMW 540

Blue Petrol 3982cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Aug 2026
Tests19 (15 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate78.9%

Mileage

110,985 mi
Last recorded110,985 miles
Recorded on1 Sep 2025
Typical for 1996 BMW 540125,563 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationN145 BNF
MakeBMW
Model540
Year1996
ColourBlue
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

15 pass 4 fail
Pass 1 Sep 2025 110,985 miles

Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play both front (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Pass 10 Aug 2024 110,603 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Jul 2022 109,265 miles

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

Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect both side (5.3.2 (d))

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

Pass 6 Mar 2021 109,050 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2021 109,050 miles

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Pass 25 Nov 2019 107,793 miles
Pass 6 May 2016 99,245 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2015 92,387 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 26 Feb 2013 90,599 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

steering checked best as possible due to under cover

Pass 12 Mar 2012 87,222 miles
Pass 15 Mar 2011 84,093 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

slight knock from steering

slight wear to nearside rear sub/frame mount bush

Fail 15 Mar 2011 84,095 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

slight knock from steering

slight wear to nearside rear sub/frame mount bush

Pass 18 Mar 2010 81,136 miles

rear suspension/sub/frame mount bushes worn

slight knock from steering

Fail 11 Mar 2010 81,073 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)

Offside Rear Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

rear suspension/sub/frame mount bushes worn

slight knock from steering

Pass 16 Mar 2009 78,268 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2008 76,080 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2007 72,641 miles
Fail 12 Mar 2007 72,641 miles

Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 14 Mar 2006 70,118 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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N145 BNF is a 1996 BMW 540 in Blue with a 3,982cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.9%.

Across all 1996 BMW 540 models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.2% with a typical mileage of 125,563 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 N145 BNF, 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 30 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 N145 BNF?

You can check the full history of N145 BNF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N145 BNF registered?

N145 BNF is a 1996 BMW 540, first registered on 29 February 1996.

Is N145 BNF safe to buy?

The MOT history for N145 BNF shows 19 tests with a 78.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N145 BNF 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 N145 BNF. 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.