2004 BMW 645 4.4L Petrol · V8 XOB

The 2004 BMW 645 presents a mixed maintenance trend that has deteriorated sharply in the most recent MOT cycle. The vehicle passed its May 2026 test at 64,185 miles, yet the tester noted the parking brake efficiency only just met the legal threshold and flagged a severely deteriorated nearside rear upper suspension arm ball joint dust cover. This follows a failed test on 30 April 2026 at 64,174 miles, where the anti-lock braking system and electronic stability control warning lamps were non-functional, the offside front seat belt webbing was frayed, and the handbrake recorded a borderline pass with poor performance on the nearside. The pattern is clearly worsening. Two consecutive tests within three weeks reveal unresolved braking system faults and emerging suspension deterioration after a long run of clean passes from 2023 through 2025. The mileage profile is notably low for a vehicle of this age. At 64,185 miles over approximately 22 years, the annual average sits at roughly 2,918 miles. The MOT record confirms this gentle use, with only 11 miles covered between the April and May 2026 tests and just 89 miles between the April and May 2025 tests. The mileage progression from 63,739 in April 2023 to 64,185 in May 2026 shows only 446 miles over more than three years, indicating prolonged periods of inactivity. Low mileage can preserve certain components, but extended sitting often accelerates rubber deterioration, brake seizure, and fluid degradation, which aligns precisely with the defects now appearing. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the braking system. The recurring handbrake efficiency issues across both 2026 tests, combined with the ABS and ESC warning lamp failures flagged in April, suggest potential faults with wheel speed sensors, brake calipers, or the control module itself. The nearside rear upper suspension arm ball joint dust cover deterioration is a genuine structural concern; once the cover splits, contamination enters the joint, accelerating wear and risking catastrophic failure. The frayed offside front seat belt webbing from the April failure should have been replaced, but a buyer must confirm this was actually repaired rather than simply masked for the retest. The 2023 advisory for an oil leak, though deemed not excessive at the time, warrants under-bonnet inspection, as oil leaks on a BMW N62 V8 can migrate onto belts, exhaust components, and rubber hoses. Given the vehicle's extended stationary periods, all rubber bushes, brake hoses, and tyres should be examined for perishing and cracking. The braking and suspension faults documented in the two most recent tests indicate deferred maintenance that a buyer must address before relying on the car as daily transport.