1997 BMW 5 Series 2.8L Petrol · P24 GDV
1997 BMW 5 Series (2.8L, petrol). First registered 14 Feb 1997. Recorded mileage 140,051 miles. MOT expired on 08 Oct 2023.
- Make & Model
- BMW 5 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 08 Oct 2023
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 140,051 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
P24 GDV Key Findings
- 29 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 21/09/2022
- 140,051 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 11 historical MOT failures
- 3 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (44 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
P24 GDV MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
29 MOT tests are recorded for this 1997 BMW 5 Series (P24 GDV) between January 2006 and September 2022.
The record contains 18 passes and 11 failures.
The most recent test on 21 September 2022 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 11 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (44 issues), Suspension (19 issues), Lighting (14 issues), Tyres (9 issues), Bodywork (8 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 81 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))”; “Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))”; “Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))”.
P24 GDV Mileage History
- 03/01/200697,731 mi
- 05/01/200697,731 mi
- 12/01/2007103,957 mi+6,226 mi
- 09/10/2007107,418 mi+3,461 mi
- 10/10/2007107,418 mi
- 22/09/2008114,206 mi+6,788 mi
- 22/09/2008114,211 mi+5 mi
- 23/09/2009119,410 mi+5,199 mi
- 20/09/2010124,661 mi+5,251 mi
- 20/09/2010124,666 mi+5 mi
- 12/09/2011127,047 mi+2,381 mi
- 13/09/2011127,047 mi
- 27/09/2012130,992 mi+3,945 mi
- 28/09/2012130,993 mi+1 mi
- 25/09/2013133,549 mi+2,556 mi
- 11/09/2014133,902 mi+353 mi
- 16/09/2014133,904 mi+2 mi
- 16/09/2015134,808 mi+904 mi
- 14/09/2016135,820 mi+1,012 mi
- 27/09/2017136,530 mi+710 mi
- 27/09/2017136,530 mi
- 19/09/2018137,190 mi+660 mi
- 27/09/2018137,190 mi
- 12/09/2019137,531 mi+341 mi
- 15/09/2020138,921 mi+1,390 mi
- 15/09/2020138,921 mi
- 23/09/2021139,547 mi+626 mi
- 05/10/2021139,554 mi+7 mi
- 21/09/2022140,051 mi+497 mi
Average of roughly 2,532 miles per year across 29 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for BMW 5 Series (E39)
Our database tracks 5 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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BMW 5 SERIES Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1997 model year cars.
- Cooling System "Explosion"Serious
Plastic radiators, expansion tanks, and water pump impellers fail with age. One overheating event can warp the aluminium head or blow the head gasket on straight-six and V8 models.
- Thrust Arm Bush Failure (50mph Shimmy)Moderate
The front suspension relies on large rubber hydro-bushes in the thrust arms. When these leak or tear, the car develops a severe vibration through the steering wheel.
- V8 Timing Chain Guide FailureSerious
On 540i models, the U-shaped plastic timing chain guide shatters, leading to potential engine destruction if the chain jumps.
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