BMW 750 (1988)
1988 BMW 750
CarHunch analysed 113 real MOT records for the 1988 BMW 750. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1988 BMW 750 passes its MOT first time in only 69.5% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, which suggests these nearly 40-year-old cars need careful pre-purchase inspection and budget for repairs. With 12.4% experiencing dangerous defects, you're looking at a meaningful safety risk that rules out casual buys—this is specialist-owner territory.
At 129,500 miles median mileage, these survivors have genuinely high use but aren't necessarily worn out if maintained properly. The average 1.73 failures and 6.8 advisories per test indicate that when these cars fail, they tend to accumulate multiple issues at once, so budget for comprehensive work rather than one-off fixes.
What to check before buying a 1988 BMW 750
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.
- 📄 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 750
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 112 | 69.6% | 1.74 |
| LPG (1%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 BMW 750 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 1988 BMW 750 vehicles fall between 104,941 and 163,787 miles.
1988 BMW 750 — Still on the Road
10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 — 53% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1988 BMW 750
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
37.9%
Oil leak
-
35.9%
Fuel pipe/s corroded
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23.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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19.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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17.5%
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
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15.5%
Brake pipe slightly corroded
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13.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.6%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific BMW 750?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.