BMW 728 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 728 car check
Is the BMW 728 reliable? We analysed 84,739 real MOT tests across 7,020 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 728? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 728 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 728.
BMW 728 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 728. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 728 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 728 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 728 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 728 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 728 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 728 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 728 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 728 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 155 | 71.6% | 85,416 | 117,575 | 161,742 |
| 2001 | 14,447 | 73.9% | 75,302 | 103,890 | 136,257 |
| 2000 | 14,776 | 72.7% | 82,042 | 108,330 | 139,352 |
| 1999 | 15,620 | 72.5% | 82,574 | 110,674 | 140,410 |
| 1998 | 15,797 | 71.0% | 87,971 | 114,121 | 142,796 |
| 1997 | 13,660 | 70.2% | 93,033 | 120,250 | 149,182 |
| 1996 | 9,083 | 69.7% | 99,220 | 126,392 | 154,979 |
| 1986 | 420 | 73.1% | 95,117 | 113,627 | 139,146 |
| 1985 | 204 | 66.2% | 64,948 | 99,915 | 133,148 |
| 1984 | 141 | 63.8% | 94,239 | 106,086 | 124,265 |
| 1983 | 109 | 67.9% | 89,173 | 105,902 | 166,394 |
| 1982 | 78 | 70.5% | 86,267 | 115,999 | 131,655 |
How Long Does a BMW 728 Last?
Based on 7,020 BMW 728 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 728 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 728 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 728
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.9% MOT pass rate from 14,447 tests
63.8% MOT pass rate from 141 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 728 is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.9% across 14,447 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 728 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 728 THIS CAR | 71.8% | 84,739 | 113,360 mi | 30 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Ssangyong Rodius | 69.9% | 44,764 | 60,429 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 728 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 728 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 728Should you buy a used BMW 728?
The BMW 728 has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.8% across 84,739 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 728 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,391 recorded failures), suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (3,768), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (2,300). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical BMW 728 owner drives around 5,164 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 728 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.