BMW 735
From 1,197 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 60 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 60 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 54 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 51 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 30 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 22 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 20 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 20 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 19 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 19 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 19 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 45.9% of failures are serious: 39.8% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 6.1% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £121.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 77.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 77% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 78.5% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1998 | 67.9% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
1 earlier years
| 1996 | 59.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 735s tested had between 74,424 and 142,000 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 114,100 median miles, the 735 has 0.023 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 735 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 735 has a 74.1% MOT pass rate based on 1,197 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 735?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 735 is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 60 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 735 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 735 is 114,100 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 74,424 and 142,000 miles.
Buying a used 735?
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.
With a 74.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £121 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.