2005 BMW 645 4.4L Petrol · LS05 KWC

The 2005 BMW 645Ci presents a mixed maintenance profile with a current MOT that expired on 14 September 2025, leaving the vehicle now over nine months past its retest due date. The most recent test on 14 September 2023 at 131,569 miles passed, but only after a failure the previous day revealed an engine malfunction indicator lamp inoperative, excessive play in the offside track rod end ball joint, and exposed ply or cords on three of four tyres. That same-day retest pattern suggests the previous owner addressed immediate failures reactively rather than maintaining the car proactively. The maintenance trend over the full record is broadly stable but punctuated by recurring issues that point to deferred attention rather than systematic servicing. The mileage progression tells a clear story of very light recent use. The vehicle accumulated 125,162 miles by June 2022 and reached 131,569 miles by September 2023, a gain of just 6,407 miles over roughly fifteen months. Before that, the car covered around 7,400 miles per year between March 2021 and June 2022. The 2023 test recorded the same 131,569 miles on both the failure and the pass, confirming the car effectively stood still during that inspection window. Low annual mileage can preserve mechanical components in some respects, but prolonged standing periods risk brake corrosion, tyre flat-spotting, and fluid degradation, all of which appear in this record. The recurring oil leak advisories, noted in 2021, 2022, and 2023, suggest a persistent engine or gearbox seal issue that has never been properly rectified. A buyer should inspect the engine underside, bell housing area, and around the valve cover gaskets for fresh weeping or active dripping. The track rod end failure in September 2023 and the slight steering rack free play flagged in March 2021 indicate the steering system has received attention but may need further assessment for wear. Suspension bushes on both rear lower arms have been advisory items since 2022, and while the tester noted no excessive movement, original bushes on a twenty-one-year-old car of this age are likely fatigued. A physical check under load is advisable. The tyre history raises the most concern about ownership standards. Exposed cords on three tyres in June 2023 and again on three tyres in September 2023, combined with inner edge wear patterns noted in 2022, point to either sustained underinflation, worn dampers, or misaligned tracking that has gone uncorrected. Corroded brake pipes appeared as advisories in 2022 and as a failure item in June 2023, suggesting the braking system has been deteriorating over multiple test cycles. A buyer should have a workshop inspect the full underside for pipe condition, brake hose integrity, and subframe corrosion before committing to purchase.