# BMW 540 MOT reliability: pass rate and common failures | RegFlags

The BMW 540 passes its MOT first time 75% of the time, from 631 MOT tests. See pass rates by year, common failures and typical mileage.

- First-time MOT pass rate: 75%
- MOT tests analysed: 631 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2025)
- Most common failure area: Lights & electrics

## By year of first use and fuel

| Year | Fuel | MOT tests | First-time pass rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021 | Petrol | 4 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 2020 | Petrol | 3 (very few mots) | 67% |
| 2019 | Petrol | 9 (very few mots) | 89% |
| 2018 | Petrol | 17 (very few mots) | 71% |
| 2017 | Petrol | 32 (few mots) | 78% |
| 2011 | Diesel | 1 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 2008 | Petrol | 7 (very few mots) | 71% |
| 2007 | Petrol | 10 (very few mots) | 90% |
| 2006 | Petrol | 12 (very few mots) | 67% |
| 2005 | Petrol | 5 (very few mots) | 80% |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 2003 | Petrol | 36 (few mots) | 72% |
| 2002 | Petrol | 72 (few mots) | 81% |
| 2002 | LPG | 2 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 2001 | Petrol | 83 (few mots) | 72% |
| 2001 | LPG | 1 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 2000 | Petrol | 70 (few mots) | 80% |
| 2000 | LPG | 1 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 1999 | Petrol | 63 (few mots) | 73% |
| 1998 | Petrol | 75 (few mots) | 67% |
| 1998 | LPG | 2 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 1997 | Petrol | 53 (few mots) | 76% |
| 1997 | LPG | 2 (very few mots) | 50% |
| 1996 | Petrol | 27 (few mots) | 67% |
| 1995 | Petrol | 19 (very few mots) | 74% |
| 1995 | LPG | 1 (very few mots) | 100% |
| 1994 | Petrol | 13 (very few mots) | 69% |
| 1993 | Petrol | 10 (very few mots) | 90% |

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