BMW 740d — MOT pass rate & failures
11,394 MOT tests on the BMW 740d (1998–2025) give a 90.7% pass rate. That is 4.1 percentage points better than the 13.4% fail rate across all BMW 7 Series versions, so the 740d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are joints, tread depth and registration plates — joints alone was recorded 149 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.8% versus 7.0%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 233 | 83.7% | 16.3% |
| 2010 | 427 | 84.8% | 15.2% |
| 2011 | 418 | 89.0% | 11.0% |
| 2012 | 256 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 2013 | 239 | 83.7% | 16.3% |
| 2014 | 360 | 91.1% | 8.9% |
| 2015 | 322 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2016 | 1,975 | 91.0% | 9.0% |
| 2017 | 1,958 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2018 | 2,655 | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| 2019 | 1,640 | 93.0% | 7.0% |
| 2020 | 591 | 93.6% | 6.4% |
| 2021 | 217 | 94.5% | 5.5% |
| 2022 | 68 | 95.6% | 4.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 515 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.4% | 163 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 156 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 1.3% | 146 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 128 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 116 |
| 7 | Brakes | 0.9% | 104 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 101 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 149 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 148 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 124 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 98 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 88 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 84 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.5% | 1,765 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.7% | 875 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.7% | 421 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 387 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 343 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 326 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,890 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,089 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,756 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,478 | 10.5% |
| 120-150k | 777 | 11.8% |
| 150k+ | 384 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,965 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 2,268 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 2,404 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 2,391 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 2,366 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 740d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (1.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 740d at MOT time?
90.7% of the 11,394 BMW 740d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate, better than the 13.4% average across all 7 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 740d?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by suspension (1.4%).
Does the 740d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,394 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.