BMW 740 (2011)
2011 BMW 740
CarHunch analysed 120 real MOT records for the 2011 BMW 740. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2011 BMW 740 diesel posts an 87% first-time pass rate, a solid 7 points above the UK average, but nearly a third of these cars (31.7%) have logged a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for safety-conscious buyers. The diesel variant achieves 86.4% reliability, which is respectable, though the dangerous defect rate suggests electrical, brake, or suspension issues crop up with worrying frequency on this generation.
At just under 80,000 miles on the median, these are relatively low-mileage examples for a thirteen-year-old car, which partly explains the better-than-average pass rate. However, advisories average nearly 10 per vehicle and failures average 1.71, pointing to wear accumulating on expensive systems—before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the suspension, cooling system, and electrical architecture, as these are typical money-drains on ageing 7-Series models.
What to check before buying a 2011 BMW 740
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 31.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a BMW 740
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (92%) | 110 | 86.4% | 1.77 |
| Petrol (8%) | 10 | 93% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2011 BMW 740 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2011 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 62,927 and 103,285 miles.
2011 BMW 740 — Still on the Road
65 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 57% 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.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2011 BMW 740
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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42.2%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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39.6%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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39%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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38.1%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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33.1%
Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
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26.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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26.1%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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25.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific BMW 740?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.