BMW > 5 SERIES > 540 I

HOW MANY WERE MADE | HOW MANY ARE LEFT | COLOURS | ENGINES

HOW MANY BMW 540 I ARE LEFT?

There are 21 BMW 540 I left on the road in the UK (i.e. with valid road tax). There are a further 67 BMW 540 I that are currently SORNED.

The total number of BMW 540 I was highest during 2002 Q4 (232). The number taxed topped out in 2002 Q4 and the total SORNed was at its maximum during 2025 Q2.

Since the total peaked, some 144 (62%) BMW 540 I have been scrapped or exported.

During 2017 Q3 the number of BMW 540 I that were off the road (SORN) exceeded the number that were licensed for the first time. This could indicate the owners are reluctant to sell or scrap their car as they view them as a potential future classic.

In the last 10 years the total number of BMW 540 I has fallen by 20. Licensed models have fallen by 42 and the SORNed total has increased by 22.

The 5 year trend shows a total decline of 5 BMW 540 I models. Taxed models have declined by 18 and the SORNed total has increased by 13.

76% of the remaining 88 BMW 540 I in the UK are currently off the road.

HOW MANY BMW 540 I ARE TAXED & SORNED

YEAR TAXED SORNED TOTAL CHANGE
1994 Q45805858
1995 Q4133013375
1996 Q4147014714
1997 Q41450145-2
1998 Q4175017530
1999 Q4200020025
2000 Q4222022222
2001 Q422802286
2002 Q423202324
2003 Q42200220-12
2004 Q422302233
2005 Q42120212-11
2006 Q41960196-16
2007 Q4185141993
2008 Q317620196-3
2008 Q416428192-4
2009 Q115728185-7
2009 Q2159291883
2009 Q315529184-4
2009 Q414832180-4
2010 Q1149311800
2010 Q214334177-3
2010 Q312841169-8
2010 Q412836164-5
2011 Q111642158-6
2011 Q2117411580
2011 Q3114451591
2011 Q411241153-6
2012 Q110535140-13
2012 Q2106341400
2012 Q39538133-7
2012 Q48937126-7
2013 Q18638124-2
2013 Q286381240
2013 Q37637113-11
2013 Q476441207
2014 Q17443117-3
2014 Q27141112-5
2014 Q373441175
2014 Q46947116-1
2015 Q16451115-1
2015 Q26345108-7
2015 Q363471102
2015 Q46147108-2
2016 Q16047107-1
2016 Q25649105-2
2016 Q357491061
2016 Q459481071
2017 Q15846104-3
2017 Q25545100-4
2017 Q3475097-3
2017 Q45148992
2018 Q1454994-5
2018 Q2435093-1
2018 Q34449930
2018 Q44154952
2019 Q1395291-4
2019 Q24053932
2019 Q34153941
2019 Q4355691-3
2020 Q1355489-2
2020 Q23954934
2020 Q3375592-1
2020 Q4355489-3
2021 Q1365288-1
2021 Q23951902
2021 Q3414889-1
2021 Q4365288-1
2022 Q1354883-5
2022 Q2305181-2
2022 Q32953821
2022 Q42860886
2023 Q1295685-3
2023 Q2265884-1
2023 Q32559840
2023 Q4216182-2
2024 Q12559842
2024 Q22659851
2024 Q32758850
2024 Q42660861
2025 Q12265871
2025 Q22167881

How Rare Is My Car analyses 'road tax' data from the DVLA, this dataset is only available from 1994 onwards.

DVLA vehicle licensing statistics last updated 23/10/2025.