BMW 735 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 735 car check
Is the BMW 735 reliable? We analysed 51,279 real MOT tests across 5,701 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 735? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 735 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 brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 735.
BMW 735 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 735. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 735 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 735 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 735 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 735 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 735 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 735 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 735 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 735 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 86 | 75.6% | 81,994 | 100,235 | 132,840 |
| 2004 | 866 | 77.5% | 53,906 | 76,805 | 103,734 |
| 2003 | 3,454 | 77.8% | 56,591 | 84,522 | 114,471 |
| 2002 | 8,471 | 76.4% | 61,988 | 87,108 | 114,359 |
| 2001 | 3,191 | 74.0% | 73,249 | 101,744 | 130,339 |
| 2000 | 4,054 | 75.2% | 76,981 | 102,713 | 128,934 |
| 1999 | 5,491 | 73.5% | 83,492 | 108,009 | 134,420 |
| 1998 | 5,431 | 70.6% | 88,007 | 114,202 | 141,307 |
| 1997 | 4,855 | 71.2% | 92,172 | 117,541 | 141,155 |
| 1996 | 3,912 | 69.0% | 94,616 | 119,184 | 143,165 |
| 1992 | 916 | 71.3% | 112,882 | 147,304 | 180,007 |
| 1991 | 1,625 | 72.1% | 105,300 | 137,044 | 169,312 |
| 1990 | 2,327 | 71.0% | 107,028 | 137,621 | 175,253 |
| 1989 | 2,530 | 70.7% | 109,763 | 141,653 | 177,884 |
| 1988 | 1,877 | 69.3% | 112,410 | 146,829 | 178,029 |
| 1987 | 781 | 70.9% | 105,768 | 136,070 | 166,340 |
| 1986 | 238 | 68.9% | 75,793 | 114,146 | 130,884 |
| 1985 | 478 | 69.9% | 88,577 | 127,560 | 153,755 |
| 1984 | 139 | 80.6% | 91,708 | 122,140 | 155,568 |
| 1983 | 183 | 69.9% | 91,580 | 119,518 | 156,616 |
How Long Does a BMW 735 Last?
Based on 5,701 BMW 735 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 735 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 735 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 735
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.6% MOT pass rate from 139 tests
61.2% MOT pass rate from 67 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 735 is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.6% across 139 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 735 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 735 THIS CAR | 73.1% | 51,279 | 109,744 mi | 41 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 |
| Iveco Daily 35S11 Mwb | 71.6% | 15,969 | 126,692 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 735 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 735 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 735Should you buy a used BMW 735?
The BMW 735 has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.1% across 51,279 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the BMW 735 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,292 recorded failures), suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (1,707), and brake pipe excessively corroded (1,582). 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 735 owner drives around 4,383 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 735 models stay on UK roads for around 41 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.