2005 BMW 645 CI Auto 4.4L Petrol · CF05 ASZ

The DVSA record for this 2005 BMW 645 presents a patchy and somewhat concerning picture of roadworthiness, with five tests showing no advisories at all and two failures where the specific defect entries were not captured. The most recent test on 2023-02-10 was a pass with no defects recorded, but this followed a fail on 2023-01-22 just nineteen days earlier, and before that the vehicle sat untested from November 2021 back to September 2020, a fifteen month gap. The 2016 test produced the most detailed record, with a failure for a nearside rear tyre bulge and a stability control warning lamp fault, alongside a nearside front tyre advisory. The pattern is one of intermittent testing with large gaps and multiple failures clustered in 2020 and early 2023, and the absence of advisory detail on the later passes means any underlying wear is not fully documented. At 171,660 recorded miles across approximately twenty-one years of life, the vehicle is accumulating around 8,174 miles per year on average, which sits close to a typical usage rate for its age. The mileage history visible through MOT records shows substantial accumulation in the earlier years of testing and a long stretch between the 2016 tests and the 2020 cluster, suggesting periods of either lighter use or off-road storage. The 2020 to 2023 testing window shows the vehicle was being presented repeatedly in a short space of time, which can indicate either a vehicle being brought back into regular use after a lay-up or one struggling to pass consistently. Mechanically, an E64 645 at this mileage will have consumed multiple sets of tyres, brake discs and pads, and suspension components, and the lack of any recorded advisories since 2016 means the wear state of items like bushes, coil springs and anti-roll bar links is undocumented in this dataset. Given the stability control warning lamp fault flagged in 2016, this is a system worth scrutinising on any inspection, as ABS wheel speed sensors, steering angle sensors and the DSC module itself are common fault sources on this chassis and a recurring warning could indicate an intermittent sensor issue or a deeper hydraulic problem. On a test drive, pay particular attention to the operation of the dynamic stability control, ensuring the warning lamp extinguishes promptly on ignition and does not return while driving, and listen for any unusual noises from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which would suggest worn control arm bushes or thrust arms typical of the E64 platform. The nearside rear tyre bulge failure from 2016 highlights a need to inspect all four tyres and the wheels themselves for cracks, corrosion around the rim bead, and sidewall damage, as impact-kerbing on the rear is common with this car's wide rear track. The two 2023 tests occurring within nineteen days of each other, combined with the 2020 cluster, raises the question of whether there are latent issues that surface only intermittently during presentation. A pre-purchase inspection should specifically check for oil leaks from the N62 V8 engine's valley gasket and valve cover gaskets, coolant leaks from the expansion tank and radiator, and any signs of coolant loss through the tell-tale white residue around hose joints. The brake system should be examined closely for binding calipers, corroded disc surfaces, and the condition of the flexible brake hoses, which on a high-mileage 645 are prone to perishing. Finally, given the long gaps in MOT testing, inspect the underbody carefully for corrosion on the suspension subframes, brake and fuel lines, and around the jacking points, as extended standing periods combined with winter road salt can accelerate structural rust on vehicles of this vintage, and any evidence of recent welding or underseal treatment on these areas warrants further investigation.