1999 BMW 540I
WAPBA46L19HF40627
Vehicle record for the 1999 BMW 540I (VIN WAPBA46L19HF40627). Green, sedan, gasoline / lpg. Registered in Ivano Frankivsk. 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year. Specifications, registration region and recall data.
No photo of this model yet1999 BMW 540I · Green on the registration record
Should you buy it? Worth a look — but negotiate
Weighed from safety recalls, known problems and market price.
- 1 recall campaign exist for this model year. Check this VIN on NHTSA.gov to confirm the repairs were done.
Full vehicle history report
Everything below is in the paid report for VIN WAPBA46L19HF40627, compiled live from NMVTIS and licensed providers the moment you unlock it. Not every vehicle has every record type — the report shows what is on file, and says so when nothing is. The 1 recall campaign for this model year are shown further down.
📜 Title & ownership
- Title statusClean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon — from the national title database (NMVTIS)🔒
- Title brand historyEvery brand ever applied, by state, with what each one means🔒
- Title & registration recordsHow many times it has been titled, where, and the years-per-owner pace🔒
- Decode consistency checkThe provider's decode cross-checked against ours — a mismatch is a cloned-VIN warning sign🔒
🛞 Odometer
- Odometer timelineEvery reported reading with its date and state, drawn as a timeline🔒
- Rollback checkFlags any reading that goes backwards🔒
- Miles per yearThis car's pace against the US average🔒
💥 Damage, loss & theft
- Total-loss recordsInsurance total-loss declarations, with the reporting insurer type and date🔒
- Salvage & junk-yard recordsSalvage, junk and auction dispositions, including export flags🔒
- Theft screenActive and recovered theft records🔒
- Accident indicatorsDamage events reflected in title data (NMVTIS does not carry police crash reports)🔒
- Flood-exposure checkTitle activity in a disaster area soon after a major flood or hurricane🔒
💰 Liens & value
- Liens, impounds & exportOpen liens with the lender, tow/impound and export records🔒
- Market value for this exact carRetail adjusted for its mileage and state, trade-in, loan value, auction low/avg/high and retail by condition🔒
- DepreciationDrop from original MSRP, yearly rate and a one-year projection🔒
- Sticker vs dealer invoiceWhat it cost new, and what the dealer paid🔒
🧰 Factory warranty & equipment
- Remaining warrantyBasic, powertrain and rust coverage left, estimated from the first title date and odometer🔒
- Standard equipment & coloursWhat this trim came with from the factory, and the colours it was offered in🔒
🚨 Recalls on this VIN
- Per-VIN recall statusWhether each campaign has been repaired on THIS car, remedy availability, do-not-drive and stop-sale flags, dealer labour time🔒
History reports cover US-titled vehicles only. This car is registered in Ukraine, so title, salvage and odometer records from the US national title database (NMVTIS) don't apply to it. The registration record, specifications and recall data on this page cost nothing.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
📋 All factory specifications on file8 more fields from the manufacturer's VIN record (NHTSA vPIC)
🏭 Manufacturing & other
Values are as reported by the manufacturer for this VIN pattern; blank or "not applicable" fields are omitted.
MPG & running costs
U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1999 BMW 540I.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages. Actual mileage varies with trim and driving conditions.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1999 BMW 540I costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Safety recall campaigns 1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
NHTSA Campaign #99V004000 · 04/01/1999Note: recall data comes from the U.S. NHTSA and covers the US-market version of this model. A car registered in Ukraine may have different campaigns — check with the manufacturer's local importer.
These are NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year, last checked 10 Oct 2026. They don't show whether this particular car has had the repair done — check this VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.
We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on all 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 540I, here are the most-reported problem areas — and what to check before you buy.
💥 1 involved a crash
🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 22
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1999 BMW 540I.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V004000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…
NHTSA ODI #10732740POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
NHTSA ODI #10702136AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY 1999 BMW 540I WAS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WE HEARD A LOUD THUD. I WALKED OUT TO THE BMW AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10700791POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MOVE. I HAD THE TRANS REBUILD AND 2 YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRANS HAS LOST GEARS 1-3 AND REVERSE, MULTISTATE REPAIRED THE TRANS AGAIN 2013, IFOR THE SECOND TIME, IT NEVER WORKED AFTER REPAIRS. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, BMW SAYS I NEED NEW TRANS AND ENGINE. WHEN I LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR 540I, IT STATES TH…
NHTSA ODI #10588144STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE CAUSING ACCESSORY BELT TO BE THROWN FROM ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND POWER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10554037STEERING
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (55-60MPH) AND A LOUD METALLIC 'THUNK' NOISE WAS HEARD AS IF SOMETHING STRUCK OR BOUNCED OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE COME OFF THE DRIVE PULLEYS, AND UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DISCOVERED TO BE LOOSE. THE UPPER MOUNTING EAR WAS BROKEN, AND THE LOWE…
NHTSA ODI #10392956LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10366694STEERING
STARTED MY CAR AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND FOUND OUT IT WAS MY BELT BEING CHEWED UP BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKETS BROKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351089+ 14 more complaints on record.
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