1998 BMW 5 Series 2.0L Petrol · R3 SDL
1998 BMW 5 Series (2.0L, petrol). First registered 07 Jan 1998. Recorded mileage 96,029 miles. MOT expired on 18 Oct 2026.
- Make & Model
- BMW 5 SERIES
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 18 Oct 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 96,029 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.0L
- 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.
R3 SDL Key Findings
- 4 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 20/09/2025
- 96,029 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 defect noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring windscreen items (2 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R3 SDL MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
4 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 BMW 5 Series (R3 SDL) between December 2021 and September 2025.
The record contains 4 passes and 0 failures.
No failures or advisories appear anywhere in the recorded tests, so the documented MOT record is relatively clean.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Windscreen (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
R3 SDL Mileage History
- 13/12/202187,154 mi
- 20/10/202388,186 mi+1,032 mi
- 21/09/202491,727 mi+3,541 mi
- 20/09/202596,029 mi+4,302 mi
Average of roughly 2,354 miles per year across 4 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 1998 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.
- ABS Module Failure (Bosch 5.7)Serious
On facelift models, the ABS module is located close to the exhaust manifold. Heat causes the internal wire bonds to fail, killing ABS and Traction Control.
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