Used car guide

2012 BMW 730d: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 730d first registered in 2012: we looked at the 1,482 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,482MOTs of 2012 cars, done in 2023–2025
83%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
9,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 BMW 730d?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 BMW 730d than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    BMW 730d
    11.3% All 2012 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.2% here, against 8.4% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 BMW 730d MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 BMW 730d MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    23% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    16% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    12% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 BMW 730d

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2012 BMW 730d as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 730d?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 730d compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022304Tyres 15%
2021738Tyres 19%
20201,270Tyres 18%
20192,212Tyres 19%
20181,912Tyres 20%
20172,155Tyres 20%
20162,550Tyres 20%
20151,710Tyres 23%
20142,098Tyres 26%
20131,156Tyres 26%
20111,912Suspension 26%
20101,379Tyres 29%
20091,061Suspension 30%
20081,446Suspension 35%
20071,285Suspension 37%
20061,771Suspension 42%
2005821Suspension 44%
2004393Brakes 41%
2003328Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 730d cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score