Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 BMW 730?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 BMW 730?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 BMW 730?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 BMW 730 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 BMW 730 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,019 vehicles, the 2004 BMW 730 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 BMW 730?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 BMW 730 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (89.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (87.9% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (66.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 BMW 730?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 730 (2004)

1,019 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.1% first-time pass rate

2004 BMW 730

CarHunch analysed 1,019 real MOT records for the 2004 BMW 730. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 BMW 730 scrapes through MOT testing at 79.1%, just below the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that nearly a third of these cars (30.6%) have recorded dangerous defects—substantially higher than typical and a significant safety flag for buyers. Diesel and petrol variants perform identically at 79.1%, so fuel type offers no reliability advantage either way.

At around 101,000 miles on average, these 20-year-old saloons are running relatively high mileage, yet they're averaging 3.35 failures and 17 advisories per test, suggesting wear and complexity issues are catching up with age. Before purchasing, have an independent inspection focus on suspension, electrical systems, and cooling—the hallmarks of ageing German saloons—because the dangerous defect rate here means routine checks aren't catching everything.

The 2004 BMW 730 has a decent first-time pass rate (79.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.35

Over 14.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

103k

Middle half: 83k–126k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,019 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,019 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 89.9%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 66.3%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · …

Brake wear 33%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 20.5%

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,019 BMW 730 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 BMW 730

Based on MOT data from 1,019 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (69%)	704	79.1%	3.37
Petrol (31%)	311	79.1%	3.29

Colour Breakdown

Based on 21,623 BMW 730 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 32.7%

7,071

Grey 19.6%

4,233

Silver 18.3%

3,949

Blue 13.9%

3,014

White 6.1%

1,315

Green 3.8%

828

Red 3.5%

757

Beige 0.6%

130

Bronze 0.5%

114

Gold 0.4%

Yellow 0.3%

Brown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 BMW 730 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

103,121

typical

82,666

low mileage

125,852

high mileage

Half of all 2004 BMW 730 vehicles fall between 82,666 and 125,852 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 82,666 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 82,666–125,852 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 BMW 730s sit.

⚠ Over 169,900 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 BMW 730 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 2004 BMW 730s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 160 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.35

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 730: All 730 years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing