Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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.

How many 2002 BMW 735 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 2002 BMW 735 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 680 vehicles, the 2002 BMW 735 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 BMW 735?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 BMW 735 are: Oil leak (98.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (79.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (78.3% 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 2002 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 (2002)

680 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.5% first-time pass rate

2002 BMW 735

CarHunch analysed 680 real MOT records for the 2002 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

The 2002 BMW 735 sits just below the UK average with a 78.5% pass rate, and that's the least of your concerns—a quarter of these cars have recorded dangerous defects, which is well above acceptable for a vehicle of this age and should trigger serious inspection before purchase. At roughly 90,000 miles on average, these cars are higher-mileage specimens, yet they're still racking up nearly 3 failures per MOT and over 12 advisories, signalling that age and wear are catching up with the model's complexity.

The real takeaway is that 735s from this era demand meticulous pre-purchase inspection, particularly around structural and safety systems where those dangerous defects cluster. Unless the specific car comes with full service history and a clean recent MOT with minimal advisories, you're backing a high-maintenance executive saloon that will likely cost significantly more to keep roadworthy than the purchase price suggests.

The 2002 BMW 735 has a decent first-time pass rate (78.5%), 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

78.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

25.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.91

Over 12.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 70k–106k

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 12.1 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 680 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 680 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 98.8%

Oil leak · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 79.7%

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

Brake wear 29.6%

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 15.1%

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 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 680 BMW 735 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 BMW 735

Based on MOT data from 680 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.2% 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 (98%)	663	78.4%	2.92

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 2002 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.

85,973

typical

70,378

low mileage

106,220

high mileage

Half of all 2002 BMW 735 vehicles fall between 70,378 and 106,220 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,378 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.

✓ 70,378–106,220 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 BMW 735s sit.

⚠ Over 143,397 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 BMW 735 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2002 BMW 735s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 37 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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

12.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.91

Avg failures per vehicle

12.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2002 BMW 735 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing