Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2010 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 2010 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 2010 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 2010 BMW 730 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% 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 2010 BMW 730 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 955 vehicles, the 2010 BMW 730 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2010 BMW 730?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2010 BMW 730 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.8% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (44.1% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (39.4% 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 2010 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 (2010)

955 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.3% first-time pass rate

2010 BMW 730

CarHunch analysed 955 real MOT records for the 2010 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 2010 BMW 730 diesel passes its MOT first time at 85.3%, which is a solid 5.3 percentage points above the UK average, suggesting these cars are generally well-maintained—though nearly 30% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material concern for buyers checking history. With a median mileage of 87,315 for a 14-year-old car, these examples are running close to the typical wear pattern, but the average of 1.92 failures per test and 11 advisories each tells you that when faults do appear, they tend to accumulate across multiple systems.

This is a complex, high-specification luxury diesel that demands proper servicing; the high advisory count reflects the reality that an aging 7-series needs more attention than a conventional saloon. If you're serious about one, insist on a full service history, run a professional pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension and electrical systems (the usual weak points), and budget for preventive work rather than waiting for the MOT to reveal problems.

The 2010 BMW 730 has a decent first-time pass rate (85.3%), 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

85.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.92

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

87k

Middle half: 68k–108k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11 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 955 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 955 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 51.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Other issues 44.1%

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

Tyre wear 38.4%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 11.4%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2010.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 955 BMW 730 cars.

Before you buy a 2010 BMW 730

Based on MOT data from 955 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30% 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 (99%)	942	85.4%	1.93

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 2010 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.

87,315

typical

68,386

low mileage

107,944

high mileage

Half of all 2010 BMW 730 vehicles fall between 68,386 and 107,944 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,386 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.

✓ 68,386–107,944 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2010 BMW 730s sit.

⚠ Over 145,724 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2010 BMW 730 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 2010 BMW 730s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 373 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% 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

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.92

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2010 BMW 730 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing