Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 BMW 730 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 2013 BMW 730 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 495 vehicles, the 2013 BMW 730 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 BMW 730?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 BMW 730 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (40.2% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (34.5% 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 2013 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 (2013)

495 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.5% first-time pass rate

2013 BMW 730

CarHunch analysed 495 real MOT records for the 2013 BMW 730. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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

Moderate sample. 495 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2013 BMW 730 diesel passes its MOT at 86.5%, a solid 6.5 points above the UK average, which is genuinely reassuring—but nearly 39% of these cars have suffered a dangerous defect at some point, a figure that warrants serious attention from any prospective buyer. This is a premium saloon that's proven more reliable than most, though you're paying for complex engineering.

At 74,000 miles median, these cars are running well within acceptable mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 1.62 failures and a notable 8.3 advisories per test, suggesting that routine maintenance costs and component wear can mount quickly as the car ages. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection specifically flag suspension, cooling system, and electrical gremlins—the bread-and-butter issues on aging 7-Series models—and budget accordingly for servicing.

The 2013 BMW 730 has a decent first-time pass rate (86.5%), 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

86.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

74k

Middle half: 57k–95k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.5% 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 8.3 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 495 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 495 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 41.5%

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

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

Brake wear 34.5%

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

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

Other issues 16.4%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 7%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 495 BMW 730 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 BMW 730

Based on MOT data from 495 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.8% 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 (100%)	493	86.4%	1.62

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 2013 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.

74,307

typical

56,591

low mileage

94,972

high mileage

Half of all 2013 BMW 730 vehicles fall between 56,591 and 94,972 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 56,591 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.

✓ 56,591–94,972 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 BMW 730s sit.

⚠ Over 128,212 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 BMW 730 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 BMW 730s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 361 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 80% of the 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

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

8.3

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 2013 BMW 730 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing