2016 BMW 640 3.0L Diesel · AS11 LAW

A consistent pattern of advisory-free passes defines the roadworthiness history of this 2016 BMW 640, with the most recent test on 18 March 2026 returning a clean pass and no defects recorded, mirroring the equally clean outcome from 10 March 2025. Prior to that pair of unblemished results, the car had accumulated a small cluster of advisories centred on tyres, brake wear, and brake balance, yet every annual assessment since at least 2022 has remained a pass. The narrative is therefore one of broadly compliant roadworthiness with only minor, component-specific wear flagged, rather than any structural, corrosion, or emissions concerns. The absence of any recorded failures across the available DVSA history supports a stable mechanical profile, though the advisories do indicate which assemblies are now approaching their service thresholds. Annual mileage accumulation of roughly 6,978 miles per year over a ten-year span sits broadly in line with typical usage for a luxury grand tourer of this age, and the testing record shows consecutive annual MOTs from 2022 through 2026 with no prolonged off-road gaps. This pattern points to regular, modest use rather than long-term standing or intensive motorway mileage, which is mechanically relevant because corrosion-related failures on suspension linkages, subframes, and brake lines are less likely to have developed rapidly when the car has been in steady circulation. Equally, the relatively gentle annual accumulation suggests that major drivetrain wear items have not been heavily stressed, though consumables such as tyres, brake pads, and discs will still have required replacement on a usage basis rather than a time basis. The 2022 advisories flagged both rear tyres worn down to approximately 2mm on their edges, indicating either a camber issue, toe misalignment, or simply age-related shoulder wear, while the 2024 advisory recorded the offside front tyre similarly close to the legal limit with wear concentrated on both inner and outer edges. Any prospective buyer should therefore inspect all four tyres closely for uneven shoulder wear, verify that the tread depth is comfortably above the 1.6mm minimum across the full width, and ask whether a four-wheel alignment has been carried out since 2022. On a test drive, listen for a drone or humming from the rear under load that could indicate compounded rear-tyre wear, and feel for steering wander or a slight pull that would suggest the alignment has drifted since the last geometry check. The 2023 advisories recorded front brake pads wearing thin alongside front service brake effort fluctuating slightly, which warrants particular attention during inspection. The calipers, brake hoses, and flexible pipes should be examined for any signs of binding, corrosion, or perishing, and the discs checked for lipping or uneven wear that could explain the fluctuating effort noted at the time of test. During a road test, the buyer should pay attention to any vibration through the brake pedal under firm stopping, any juddering that pulls the car to one side, or a soft or spongy pedal feel that might indicate underlying hydraulic issues rather than simple pad wear. Beyond these specific items, a thorough inspection of the suspension bushes, anti-roll bar links, and coil springs for any knocking over uneven surfaces is advisable given the mileage, alongside a check of the underbody and wheel arch liners for the early stages of surface corrosion typical of BMWs of this era.