BMW 740
From 7,494 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 740s fare better: 2021 models pass at 98.2% vs 94.1% for 2016.
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 86 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 | 86 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 85 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 61 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 58 |
| any fracture or welding defect on a wheel | 52 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 45 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 41 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 33 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 32 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 31 |
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 92.6% while Petrol versions pass at 87.2%, a 5 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. this includes any lifting of the tread rubber |
| 2020 | 96.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel |
| 2019 | 94.8% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel |
| 2018 | 93.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
13 earlier years
| 2017 | 90.3% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 94.1% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 91.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 90.9% | any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 90% | a tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturers sidewall instruction, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2012 | 90.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2011 | 83.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 86.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 82.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2000 | 83.6% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1999 | 83.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1998 | 84.3% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1997 | 74.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 740s tested had between 47,340 and 96,024 miles on the clock.
At 67,565 median miles, the 740 has 0.013 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 740 MOT pass rate?
The BMW 740 has a 91.3% MOT pass rate based on 7,494 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 740?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 740 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 86 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 740 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 740 is 67,565 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 47,340 and 96,024 miles.
Buying a used 740?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.