BMW 540: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 540 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 0.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 702 individual BMW 540 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 77.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 23 in every 100 BMW 540s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 540 tested had covered 122,727 miles and was built around 2001.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW 540 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 540 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW 540s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 540

1. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 1.1% of tests (4.8x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.1% of tests (4.58x the national rate for this defect)
3. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.2% of tests (4.06x the national rate for this defect)
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.3% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this defect)
5. Warning device shows system malfunction, 1.1% of tests (3.43x the national rate for this defect)
6. Emissions test unable to be completed, 1% of tests (3.14x the national rate for this defect)
7. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.2% of tests (3x the national rate for this defect)
8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.1% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2% of tests (2.03x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.5% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,517 DVSA-tracked BMW 540 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.76% of these flagged BMW 540 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Vauxhall Cavalier - 77.2%
• Volkswagen Golf - 77.1%
• Fiat Ducato - 77.1%
• Audi Coupe - 77.1%
• Toyota Alphard - 77%
• Peugeot Horizon - 77%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate