Used car guide · 2003–2022

BMW 730d common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used BMW 730d, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 27,983 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

27,983MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2009best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003

What usually goes wrong with a BMW 730d?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the BMW 730d in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common BMW 730d MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.

    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.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Wheels

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

BMW 730d MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 BMW 730d did best (81% passed first time, 22 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2021 did worst (91%, 4 points above all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202293%89% +4304 (small sample)
202191%87% +4738
202093%87% +61,270
201992%85% +72,212
201891%83% +81,912
201789%80% +92,155
201688%77% +112,550
201584%74% +101,710
201483%70% +132,098
201381%67% +141,156
201283%64% +191,482
201179%62% +171,912
201081%60% +211,379
200981%59% +221,061
200873%57% +161,446
200774%57% +171,285
200669%56% +131,771
200569%57% +12821
200472%57% +15393 (small sample)
200372%57% +15328 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 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 2.1× as often on the BMW 730d as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the airbag warning light? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the BMW 730d as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the BMW 730d as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score