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MOT reliability

Bmw 540

4,148 vehicles · 50,131 completed MOT tests analysed
72%
MOT pass rate

Based on 4,148 Bmw 540 vehicles and 50,131 completed MOT tests, the Bmw 540 has an overall 72% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 141,626 miles.

4,148
Vehicles
50,131
MOT tests
6,506
Avg miles / year
2.1
Faults per test
1%
Dangerous-fault share

Bmw 540 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Bmw 540 MOT tests:

  • Other95%
  • Brakes8%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension8%
  • Emissions & nuisance5%
  • Seatbelts & equipment2%
  • Lamps & electrical2%
  • Steering2%
  • Body & structure1%

Bmw 540 pass rate by age

How the Bmw 540's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
1475%
21694%
330087%
463883%
51,07881%
61,51479%
72,16576%
83,04374%
93,65474%
104,00171%
114,08971%
124,16170%
133,97370%
143,52668%
153,01668%
162,63367%
172,14970%
181,82269%
191,52171%
201,29872%

Fuel types: Petrol (4,081), LPG (49), Diesel (15), Other (2), LNG (1)

Most common Bmw 540 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Bmw 540 MOT tests:

  1. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (2,875 times)
  2. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (2,589 times)
  3. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (2,541 times)
  4. Oil leak (2,244 times)
  5. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (1,755 times)
  6. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (1,562 times)
  7. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (1,546 times)
  8. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d) (1,014 times)
  9. Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7) (945 times)
  10. Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (906 times)
  11. Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (889 times)
  12. Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (879 times)
  13. Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i) (832 times)
  14. Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (798 times)
  15. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) (796 times)

Bmw 540 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2021 4 5 100% 54,253
2020 6 13 92% 42,223
2019 14 62 87% 50,146
2018 20 104 86% 54,006
2017 37 223 84% 57,000
2014 1 1 100% 4,558
2011 1 11 100% 207,374
2009 1 1 100% 75,404
2008 11 148 79% 99,012
2007 20 289 83% 107,785
2006 42 664 77% 115,831
2005 18 295 77% 148,337
2004 4 75 77% 143,772
2003 75 1,325 77% 125,208
2002 249 4,291 77% 132,607
2001 342 5,406 75% 144,031
2000 384 5,217 73% 135,826
1999 456 5,958 71% 135,608
1998 731 9,052 70% 147,994
1997 595 6,860 70% 145,349
1996 390 4,096 69% 146,288
1995 253 2,450 70% 150,765
1994 251 1,877 69% 155,120
1993 242 1,695 69% 150,101
1992 1 13 62% 546,738

Bmw 540 reliability FAQ

Across 4,148 Bmw 540 vehicles in our MOT data, 72% pass the MOT (a 28% failure rate), with about 2.1 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Bmw 540 MOT issues are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); 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).

The typical Bmw 540 in our data has covered around 141,626 miles.

Compare the Bmw 540

See how the Bmw 540 stacks up against other Bmw models on MOT reliability:

540 vs 3 series 540 vs 118 540 vs 316 540 vs 520

Check a specific Bmw 540

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Bmw models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks