Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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 2011 BMW 740 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 2011 BMW 740 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 120 vehicles, the 2011 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 BMW 740?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 BMW 740 are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (43.1% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (42.2% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (39.6% 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 2011 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 (2011)

120 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87% first-time pass rate

2011 BMW 740

CarHunch analysed 120 real MOT records for the 2011 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 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.

We have limited data for the 2011 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

87%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.71

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

80k

Middle half: 63k–103k

For context

These stats describe 120 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 120 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.1%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Other issues 42.2%

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

Tyre wear 39%

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

Suspension & steering 12.6%

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · 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 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 120 BMW 740 cars.

Before you buy a 2011 BMW 740

Based on MOT data from 120 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.7% 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 (92%)	110	86.4%	1.77

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 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.

79,746

typical

62,927

low mileage

103,285

high mileage

Half of all 2011 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 62,927 and 103,285 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 62,927 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.

✓ 62,927–103,285 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 BMW 740s sit.

⚠ Over 139,434 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 BMW 740 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 57% of 2011 BMW 740s are still active.

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.
* 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

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.71

Avg failures per vehicle

9.8

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 2011 BMW 740 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing