1999 BMW M5 4.9L Petrol · T139 RPM

The 1999 BMW M5 passed its most recent MOT on 15 October 2025 at 132,969 miles, and the overall maintenance trend is one of gradual deterioration rather than active repair. Three advisories carried forward from the previous test in October 2024, all relating to anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and a perished dust cover. The tester flagged a persistent rear differential oil leak across multiple consecutive years, though consistently noting it as not excessive. A more serious failure occurred on 20 June 2023 at 132,363 miles, where corrosion significantly reduced structural rigidity at the offside front jacking point and a brake hose showed visible bulging. That failure was rectified nine days later, but the recurrence of binding service brake advisories and suspension linkage wear suggests the car has been maintained to a passable standard rather than a thorough one. The mileage profile is notably low for a 27-year-old vehicle. Between the December 2020 test and the June 2023 test, the odometer remained static at 132,363 miles for over two and a half years, indicating the car stood unused for an extended period. From June 2023 to October 2025, only 606 miles were added across two years, averaging roughly 300 miles annually. This is exceptionally low use. Long stationary periods raise concerns about deteriorated rubber components, stale fuel, and corrosion in brake lines and fuel system internals, none of which MOT testing fully captures. A buyer should prioritise inspecting the front subframe and jacking points, given the 2023 failure for significant corrosion at the offside front jacking point. The nearside front also showed corrosion at the same test, albeit not severe enough to fail. Suspension bushes, ball joints, and anti-roll bar linkages across both axles have appeared repeatedly as advisories since at least June 2023, pointing to worn components that have never been replaced. The rear differential oil leak has been a constant since that date and warrants a close inspection of the pinion seal and axle seals. Brake binding advisories on both nearside front and rear calipers across multiple tests suggest sticking caliper pistons or collapsed flexible hoses, which should be checked for safe operation. The nearside rear tyre damage noted in 2023 and 2024 also raises questions about wheel alignment and long-term tyre storage condition. Given the extended periods of inactivity, a full fluid service, brake system overhaul, and detailed underside inspection are strongly recommended before any purchase.