BMW 730
From 17,737 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 730s fare better: 2021 models pass at 97% vs 80.4% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 505 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 505 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 260 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 232 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 189 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 173 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 138 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 113 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 109 |
| any fracture or welding defect on a wheel | 92 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 85 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 50.3% of 730 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 9.1% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £108.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 87.5% while Petrol versions pass at 79.7%, a 8 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2020 | 94.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 93.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 94.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
15 earlier years
| 2017 | 92.1% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 90.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2015 | 87.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel |
| 2014 | 87.5% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 84.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2012 | 88.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 84% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 84.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 86.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 78% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2007 | 76.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2006 | 78.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 80.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2004 | 74% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2003 | 87.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all 730s tested had between 99,659 and 165,334 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 135,164 median miles, the 730 has 0.009 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 730 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 730 has a 87.2% MOT pass rate based on 17,737 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 730?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 730 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 505 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 730 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 730 is 135,164 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 99,659 and 165,334 miles.
Buying a used 730?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.