Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 BMW 745?

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 2002 BMW 745?

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 2002 BMW 745?

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 2002 BMW 745 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 2002 BMW 745 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 959 vehicles, the 2002 BMW 745 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 BMW 745?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 BMW 745 are: Oil leak (84.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (82.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (80% 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 2002 BMW 745?

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 745 (2002)

959 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.5% first-time pass rate

2002 BMW 745

CarHunch analysed 959 real MOT records for the 2002 BMW 745. 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 2002 BMW 745 falls just slightly below the UK average with a 78.5% first-time pass rate, and one in four of these cars have encountered dangerous defects during MOT testing—a genuinely concerning figure that warrants careful pre-purchase inspection. This is a luxury saloon that's now over two decades old, and it shows: the average car in this cohort has racked up 90,536 miles and tends to rack up 3.03 failures and 13.4 advisories per test, pointing to ageing systems and wear across the board.

At nearly 89,000 miles median mileage, these cars are not low-use examples, so expect maintenance bills to be substantial and ongoing. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus specifically on the suspension, cooling system, and electronics—the three areas where these complex German engines typically start to cost real money.

The 2002 BMW 745 has a decent first-time pass rate (78.5%), 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

78.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

25.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.03

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

89k

Middle half: 71k–107k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 13.4 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 959 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 959 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 84.6%

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

Tyre wear 82.7%

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

Brake wear 34.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 19.7%

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 959 BMW 745 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 BMW 745

Based on MOT data from 959 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.6% 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 (97%)	934	78.5%	3.05

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,651 BMW 745 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 30.6%

506

Black 21.6%

357

Grey 21%

347

Blue 16.2%

268

Green 6.4%

106

Red 1.3%

White 1.3%

Beige 1.2%

Purple 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 BMW 745 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.

88,719

typical

70,836

low mileage

107,174

high mileage

Half of all 2002 BMW 745 vehicles fall between 70,836 and 107,174 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,836 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.

✓ 70,836–107,174 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 BMW 745s sit.

⚠ Over 144,684 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 BMW 745 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2002 BMW 745s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 87 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).

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

13.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.03

Avg failures per vehicle

13.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 745: All 745 years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 BMW 745 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing