Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 BMW 730 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% 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 2016 BMW 730 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,068 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 730 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 730?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 730 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20.7% 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 2016 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 (2016)

1,068 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.3% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 730

CarHunch analysed 1,068 real MOT records for the 2016 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 BMW 730 passes its first MOT attempt 86.4% of the time, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which suggests decent reliability for the class—but the 26.5% of cars that have recorded a dangerous defect is a genuine concern and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. With a median mileage of 57,181 miles for an 8-year-old car, these are relatively low-mileage examples, which partly explains the better-than-average pass rate. Most owners face around 0.68 failures per test and 3.7 advisories, typical for a luxury saloon of this age and indicating wear in non-critical areas rather than systemic problems. Before buying, insist on a full service history and have a trusted BMW specialist inspect the suspension, cooling system, and brake components—the things that usually fail on these models first.

The 2016 BMW 730 has a decent first-time pass rate (91.3%), 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

91.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

26.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.68

Over 6.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 42k–76k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.3% 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 3.7 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 1,068 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 1,068 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 32%

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 12%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 10.6%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Lighting 7.8%

Rear Prop shaft flexible coupling slightly deteriorated

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,068 BMW 730 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 730

Based on MOT data from 1,068 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.5% 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

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 2016 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.

57,181

typical

42,224

low mileage

76,192

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 730 vehicles fall between 42,224 and 76,192 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 42,224 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.

✓ 42,224–76,192 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 730s sit.

⚠ Over 102,859 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 730 — Still on the Road

Most 2016 BMW 730s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 776 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

6.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.68

Avg failures per vehicle

3.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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Watch for defects — worth knowing