Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1993 BMW 740?

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 1993 BMW 740?

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 1993 BMW 740?

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 1993 BMW 740 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles, the 1993 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1993 BMW 740?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1993 BMW 740 are: Oil leak (45.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (31.7% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (30.6% 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 1993 BMW 740?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 740 (1993)

214 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.8% first-time pass rate

1993 BMW 740

CarHunch analysed 214 real MOT records for the 1993 BMW 740. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

We have limited data for the 1993 BMW 740 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

73.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.71

Over 5.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

142k

Middle half: 112k–171k

For context

These stats describe 214 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 214 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 45.5%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Tyre wear 31.7%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 30.6%

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

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

Exhaust & emissions 12.6%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 214 BMW 740 cars.

Before you buy a 1993 BMW 740

Based on MOT data from 214 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.6% 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 7,469 BMW 740 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.5%

1,907

Blue 22.2%

1,657

Silver 15%

1,121

Grey 14.5%

1,081

Green 11.3%

842

Red 4.9%

363

White 4.6%

345

Purple 0.7%

Yellow 0.4%

Beige 0.4%

Brown 0.3%

Gold 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1993 BMW 740 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.

142,444

typical

111,783

low mileage

170,532

high mileage

Half of all 1993 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 111,783 and 170,532 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 111,783 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.

✓ 111,783–170,532 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1993 BMW 740s sit.

⚠ Over 230,218 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1993 BMW 740 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 1993 BMW 740s are still active.

10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 — 50% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

5.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.71

Avg failures per vehicle

7.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 740: All 740 years → Which year to buy? →

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2009 2010 2011 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 1993 BMW 740 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on