Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 BMW 735?

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 1987 BMW 735?

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 1987 BMW 735?

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.

Is the 1987 BMW 735 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 201 vehicles, the 1987 BMW 735 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 BMW 735?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 BMW 735 are: Oil leak (38.6% of vehicles), Fuel pipe/s corroded (27.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (22.4% 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 1987 BMW 735?

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 735 (1987)

201 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.5% first-time pass rate

1987 BMW 735

CarHunch analysed 201 real MOT records for the 1987 BMW 735. 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

We have limited data for the 1987 BMW 735 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

74.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

10%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.1

Over 3.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

140k

Middle half: 114k–172k

For context

These stats describe 201 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 201 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 38.6%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Oil leak, but not excessive

Tyre wear 22.4%

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

Brake wear 21%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 12.1%

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Lighting 10.9%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 201 BMW 735 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 BMW 735

Based on MOT data from 201 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10% 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
Petrol (99%)	198	74.4%	1.11

Colour Breakdown

Based on 5,660 BMW 735 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 27.1%

1,535

Silver 20.6%

1,166

Green 12.3%

695

Black 12.1%

683

Grey 11.4%

648

Red 7.9%

449

White 3.5%

196

Bronze 2.1%

121

Beige 1.8%

100

Gold 0.5%

Purple 0.4%

Maroon 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 BMW 735 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.

139,695

typical

113,925

low mileage

172,280

high mileage

Half of all 1987 BMW 735 vehicles fall between 113,925 and 172,280 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 113,925 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.

✓ 113,925–172,280 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 BMW 735s sit.

⚠ Over 232,578 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 BMW 735 — Still on the Road

Most 1987 BMW 735s are still being driven.

11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2016 — 79% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2016.

MOT History Averages

3.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.1

Avg failures per vehicle

4.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 735: All 735 years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 BMW 735 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on