Used car guide

2018 BMW 730: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the BMW 730 first registered in 2018: we looked at the 1,911 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,911MOTs of 2018 cars, done in 2023–2025
91%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
10,400typical miles a year
null×the usual rate for flexible couplings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 BMW 730?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 BMW 730 than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Flexible couplingsnull× usual
    BMW 730
    2.8% All 2018 cars
    0%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 6.5% here, against 13.6% of all 2018 cars. Brake discs: 3.3% here, against 9.8% of all 2018 cars.

Common 2018 BMW 730 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 BMW 730 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    20% 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.

  • Brakes
    8% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    2% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    1% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 BMW 730

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

  1. Any recent work on the flexible couplings? (Flagged at MOT null× as often on the 2018 BMW 730 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 730?

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 730 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022215Tyres 16%
2021129Tyres 21%
20201,042Tyres 17%
20192,209Tyres 19%
20172,150Tyres 20%
20162,550Tyres 20%
20151,712Tyres 23%
20142,100Tyres 26%
20131,161Tyres 26%
20121,490Tyres 28%
20111,921Suspension 26%
20101,388Tyres 28%
20091,083Suspension 30%
20081,499Suspension 35%
20071,323Suspension 37%
20061,852Suspension 42%
2005894Suspension 44%
2004602Suspension 38%
2003426Suspension 39%

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 730 cars first registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score