Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 BMW 735 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

20% 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 2003 BMW 735 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 253 vehicles, the 2003 BMW 735 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 BMW 735?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 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 2003 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 (2003)

253 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.6% first-time pass rate

2003 BMW 735

CarHunch analysed 253 real MOT records for the 2003 BMW 735. 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 2003 BMW 735 passes its MOT at 80.6%, matching the UK average almost exactly, but one in five of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a real concern for buyers given the sedan's age and complexity. The petrol version shows a solid 80.8% pass rate, which is reassuring for reliability.

At 85,600 miles on average, these cars have covered roughly what you'd expect for their age, yet they're racking up 3 failures and nearly 16 advisories per test on average—considerably higher than newer stock and a sign that ownership costs are climbing. Budget for regular maintenance and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and electrics before committing to one of these machines.

We have limited data for the 2003 BMW 735 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

80.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

20.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.04

Over 13.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 65k–106k

For context

These stats describe 253 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 253 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 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 253 BMW 735 cars.

Before you buy a 2003 BMW 735

Based on MOT data from 253 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.2% 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%)	248	80.8%	3.02

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 2003 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.

83,639

typical

64,550

low mileage

105,789

high mileage

Half of all 2003 BMW 735 vehicles fall between 64,550 and 105,789 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,550 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.

✓ 64,550–105,789 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 BMW 735s sit.

⚠ Over 142,815 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 BMW 735 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 2003 BMW 735s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 30 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% 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

13.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.04

Avg failures per vehicle

15.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 BMW 735 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?