BMW 740 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 740. Check any 740 by registration number below.

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86.6%

Avg Pass Rate

-3.3%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

BMW 740 — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 740 has an average MOT pass rate of 86.6%, which is 3.3 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 740 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW 740 fails its MOT are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your 740 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used BMW 740, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 740 performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 261 vehicles

98.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

1.6%

Mileage at 3yr

58k mi

2020

Based on 878 vehicles

95.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.6%

Retest Rate

4.1%

Mileage at 3yr

51k mi

Mileage at 5yr

70k mi

2019

Based on 1,672 vehicles

95.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

5.0%

Mileage at 3yr

54k mi

Mileage at 5yr

82k mi

2018

Based on 1,837 vehicles

92.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

9.7%

Mileage at 5yr

88k mi

2017

Based on 1,294 vehicles

90.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

9.8%

Mileage at 5yr

102k mi

2016

Based on 1,573 vehicles

93.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

6.2%

2015

Based on 410 vehicles

90.2%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

12.4%

Mileage at 10yr

69k mi

2014

Based on 285 vehicles

90.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.7%

Retest Rate

12.0%

Mileage at 10yr

139k mi

2013

Based on 177 vehicles

87.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

12.2%

Mileage at 10yr

145k mi

2012

Based on 157 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

16.5%

2011

Based on 205 vehicles

84.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

22.1%

2010

Based on 251 vehicles

85.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

13.3%

2009

Based on 227 vehicles

81.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

36.7%

2008

Based on 48 vehicles

83.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

13.9%

2006

Based on 82 vehicles

81.7%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

11.8%

2005

Based on 77 vehicles

80.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.3%

Retest Rate

16.7%

2004

Based on 83 vehicles

91.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

201k mi

2003

Based on 93 vehicles

92.5%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

250k mi

2002

Based on 73 vehicles

87.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 10yr

221k mi

2001

Based on 156 vehicles

82.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.2%

Retest Rate

8.9%

2000

Based on 190 vehicles

81.6%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

12.0%

1999

Based on 219 vehicles

83.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

8.8%

1998

Based on 242 vehicles

81.4%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

6.7%

1997

Based on 185 vehicles

74.1%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.2%

Retest Rate

17.6%

1996

Based on 180 vehicles

82.8%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

9.9%

1995

Based on 135 vehicles

74.8%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

26.0%

1994

Based on 59 vehicles

76.3%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

17.0%

1993

Based on 73 vehicles

95.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

0

Based on 3,569 vehicles

88.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

72k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 740

The most common reasons a BMW 740 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

5.9%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.3%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

1.2%

A tyre seriously damaged

0.9%

Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel

0.8%

BMW 740 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

0.8%

Front Offside

0.8%

Front Offside Outer

0.4%

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 740

BMW 740 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 740 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 740?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 740 is 86.6% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 740?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 740 are: A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.9%), Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (1.3%), A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (1.2%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 740 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 86.6%, the BMW 740 is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 740?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 740?

Typical mileage for the BMW 740: 57,683 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 740 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 740's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.