2016 BMW 640 3.0L Diesel · DM59 JPM

The defining feature of this 640's MOT record is a single but serious dangerous failure on 11 November 2020, where both front outer tyres were found to have bulges caused by structural separation, resulting in an immediate prohibition from driving. The vehicle was retested just two days later on 13 November 2020 and passed with no remedial advisories relating to tyres, suggesting a straightforward swap was carried out. Beyond that episode, the vehicle has maintained a continuous run of passes from 2019 through to the most recent test on 2 December 2025, with no defects recorded. The recurring theme across the 2020, 2022 and 2023 tests is restricted inspection advisories for sill covers, an engine cover, and underside undertray protection, which prevent full visual access to certain structural and underbody components rather than flagging any specific defect. Aside from the 2020 dangerous failure and some tyre wear advisories, the recorded record is otherwise relatively clean, though the restricted inspection notes do introduce a degree of opacity around the underside and engine bay condition. With 68,240 miles recorded over a ten-year lifespan, this 640 has covered an annual average of roughly 6,800 miles, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a luxury grand tourer of this age. The mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than displaying any dramatic gaps or sudden leaps, indicating consistent if moderate use. The continuous annual testing pattern from 2019 onwards shows no extended periods off the road, which reduces the likelihood of issues such as seized brake calipers, deteriorated flexible brake hoses, or perished suspension bushes from long static standing. Mechanically, this pattern of use should have allowed consumable wear to progress at a measured pace, with brake components, tyres and drivetrain fluids all subjected to regular but not excessive service intervals. For a prospective buyer, the most relevant physical checks centre around the front brake system, where the 2021 test recorded inner brake pads wearing thin and front brake discs showing wear, which would now have accumulated a further four years of service. On a test drive, attention should be paid to any judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm application, which can indicate warped or unevenly worn front discs, and the car should be assessed from a straight-line stop to confirm the vehicle pulls evenly to either side. The rear tyres were also flagged as wearing close to the legal limit on the inner edges in 2021, which on a rear-wheel-drive 640 can point to either aggressive alignment settings or worn rear suspension bushings allowing camber change, so the test drive should include low-speed manoeuvres over uneven surfaces to listen for clonks or knocks from the rear suspension that might indicate perished bushes or worn control arm joints. A thorough inspection of the inner and outer shoulders of all four tyres for uneven wear is essential given the prior edge-bald advisory on the nearside front in 2024. The restricted inspection advisories from 2020, 2022 and 2023 warrant particular attention during a physical viewing. The sill covers, engine undertray and engine cover should be removed if possible to allow proper visual inspection of the chassis legs, subframe mounting points, brake pipes, fuel lines and suspension pick-up points for any corrosion or fluid residue that may have been hidden during previous tests. On the 2024 test the nearside front tyre was recorded as having a nail in the outer edge, and the offside front was bald on the edges, suggesting a potential tracking or alignment issue that may not have been corrected, so a four-wheel alignment check is advisable. Finally, given the 2020 dangerous tyre failure on bulges, both front tyres should be examined closely for sidewall deformation or impact damage, and the spare or emergency repair kit condition should be verified to ensure the vehicle is currently equipped to deal with a future puncture event.