BMW 740i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 740i passed 86.6% of its 5,667 MOT tests, covering model years 1992–2025. That tracks the BMW 7 Series range as a whole almost exactly. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 159 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.6% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.5% in 2021 to 11.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 45 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 1994 | 110 | 85.5% | 14.5% |
| 1995 | 200 | 81.5% | 18.5% |
| 1996 | 323 | 80.5% | 19.5% |
| 1997 | 296 | 79.0% | 20.9% |
| 1998 | 425 | 82.1% | 17.9% |
| 1999 | 340 | 80.0% | 20.0% |
| 2000 | 435 | 80.2% | 19.8% |
| 2001 | 396 | 81.6% | 18.4% |
| 2005 | 174 | 82.2% | 17.8% |
| 2006 | 175 | 80.0% | 20.0% |
| 2007 | 52 | 92.3% | 7.7% |
| 2008 | 76 | 85.5% | 14.5% |
| 2009 | 127 | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| 2010 | 73 | 91.8% | 8.2% |
| 2011 | 31 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2012 | 67 | 86.6% | 13.4% |
| 2013 | 64 | 89.1% | 10.9% |
| 2014 | 168 | 89.9% | 10.1% |
| 2015 | 359 | 91.4% | 8.6% |
| 2016 | 467 | 92.5% | 7.5% |
| 2017 | 361 | 93.9% | 6.1% |
| 2018 | 149 | 92.6% | 7.4% |
| 2019 | 502 | 95.4% | 4.6% |
| 2020 | 94 | 95.7% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 96 | 96.9% | 3.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 303 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 290 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 240 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 205 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.5% | 198 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 136 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 92 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 86 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 2 | Washers | 152 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 145 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 112 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 95 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 89 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.1% | 969 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 923 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.6% | 885 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.8% | 779 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 370 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.6% | 207 |
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 | 837 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,206 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 955 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 917 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 754 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 862 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,127 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 1,193 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 1,149 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 1,109 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 1,089 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 740i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
- Brakes (4.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 740i at MOT time?
86.6% of the 5,667 BMW 740i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate, in line with the 13.4% average across all 7 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 740i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 740i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,667 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.