Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2009 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 2009 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 2009 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 2009 BMW 740 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2009 BMW 740 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 115 vehicles, the 2009 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2009 BMW 740?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2009 BMW 740 are: Oil leak, but not excessive (52.1% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (48.6% of vehicles), Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (42.5% 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 2009 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 (2009)

115 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.1% first-time pass rate

2009 BMW 740

CarHunch analysed 115 real MOT records for the 2009 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 Compare Models

The 2009 BMW 740 passes its MOT on the first attempt 84.1% of the time, which is a solid 4.1 points above the UK average and suggests reasonable baseline reliability—but the 31.3% of vehicles that have recorded dangerous defects is a genuine concern and worth investigating on any specific car you're considering. Petrol and diesel breakdowns aren't available for this cohort, so you can't use that to narrow your search.

At just under 81,000 miles median, these cars are running within expected mileage for their age, which is encouraging; however, the average 1.95 failures per test and 8.5 advisories per vehicle point to mounting wear on secondary systems rather than catastrophic issues. Check service history carefully, budget for suspension and electrical work (common BMW weak points), and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system and suspension geometry given the defect history.

We have limited data for the 2009 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

84.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.95

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

81k

Middle half: 64k–103k

For context

These stats describe 115 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 115 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 52.1%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · …

Brake wear 37%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 35.6%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 12.3%

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

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 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 115 BMW 740 cars.

Before you buy a 2009 BMW 740

Based on MOT data from 115 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.3% 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
Diesel (57%)	65	81.9%	2.46
Petrol (43%)	50	87%	1.28

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 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.

80,802

typical

64,037

low mileage

102,982

high mileage

Half of all 2009 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 64,037 and 102,982 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,037 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.

✓ 64,037–102,982 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 BMW 740s sit.

⚠ Over 139,025 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 BMW 740 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 60% of 2009 BMW 740s are still active.

52 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 60% 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

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.95

Avg failures per vehicle

8.5

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 2009 BMW 740 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing