Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 BMW 740 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 2016 BMW 740 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 525 vehicles, the 2016 BMW 740 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 BMW 740?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 BMW 740 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (31% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (29.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16.1% 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 2016 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 (2016)

525 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.1% first-time pass rate

2016 BMW 740

CarHunch analysed 525 real MOT records for the 2016 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 2016 BMW 740 passes its MOT first time at 86.6%, notably above the UK average of 80%, though a quarter of examples have recorded dangerous defects—a concern worth investigating on any used example you're considering. Diesel versions perform particularly well at 87.6%, while petrol variants lag at 82.5%, suggesting better long-term durability in the more common diesel configuration.

These cars are running around 56,900 miles at this age, which is typical for their era, yet they're averaging 0.69 failures and 3.3 advisories per test—indicating that while they often pass, minor issues are routine. Before purchasing, request the full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the suspension, cooling system, and electrical components, which typically account for the advisory work on this model.

The 2016 BMW 740 has a decent first-time pass rate (91.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

91.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

25.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.69

Over 6.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 41k–73k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 525 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 525 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 31%

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

Brake wear 11.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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 10.6%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Lighting 4.4%

Rear Prop shaft flexible coupling slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 525 BMW 740 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 BMW 740

Based on MOT data from 525 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.1% 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 (79%)	416	90.7%	0.73
Petrol (21%)	109	92.7%	0.53

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 2016 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.

56,910

typical

40,703

low mileage

73,459

high mileage

Half of all 2016 BMW 740 vehicles fall between 40,703 and 73,459 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,703 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.

✓ 40,703–73,459 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 BMW 740s sit.

⚠ Over 99,169 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 BMW 740 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 BMW 740s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 416 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* 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

6.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.69

Avg failures per vehicle

3.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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See how the 2016 BMW 740 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing