Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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.

How many 2001 BMW 740 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2001 BMW 740 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 228 vehicles, the 2001 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 BMW 740?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 BMW 740 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (84.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (79.4% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (73.7% 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 2001 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.

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BMW 740 (2001)

228 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.4% first-time pass rate

2001 BMW 740

CarHunch analysed 228 real MOT records for the 2001 BMW 740. 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 2001 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, which is 3.6 points below the UK average, and nearly 29% of examples have recorded a dangerous defect at some stage—a notable concern for a high-value luxury car of this age. These aren't isolated glitches: the average 740 racks up 3.51 failures per test and 17.4 advisories, suggesting systemic wear across multiple systems rather than one problem area.

At 105,000 miles median mileage for a 23-year-old car, these have been driven hard, which explains the failure pattern. Before buying, budget for at least one significant repair cycle and have the suspension, braking system, and fuel injection thoroughly inspected by a BMW specialist—not a general garage.

We have limited data for the 2001 BMW 740 — 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

76.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.51

Over 14.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

105k

Middle half: 82k–128k

For context

These stats describe 228 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 228 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 84.2%

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

Other issues 73.7%

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

Brake wear 29.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Brake pipe slightly corroded · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 22.4%

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 228 BMW 740 cars.

Before you buy a 2001 BMW 740

Based on MOT data from 228 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	223	76.3%	3.55

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 2001 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.

104,968

typical

81,877

low mileage

127,531

high mileage

Half of all 2001 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 81,877 and 127,531 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,877 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.

✓ 81,877–127,531 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 BMW 740s sit.

⚠ Over 172,166 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 BMW 740 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 2001 BMW 740s are still active.

64 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 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 2014–2025.
* 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

14.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.51

Avg failures per vehicle

17.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2001 BMW 740 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing