BMW 735 MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

BMW 735 MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The BMW 735 passed on its first attempt in 71.9%, and its overall record sits −4.2 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the BMW 735 in the 2023–2025 data: 678 tests across 4 model years (2000–2003). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common BMW 735 MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the BMW 735, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the BMW 735's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded BMW 735 DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the BMW 735, each with how many of the model's 678 tests it was noted on.

• "Srs malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a fault" (Major) — noted on about 23 BMW 735 tests, 3.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 23 BMW 735 tests, 3.4% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 21 BMW 735 tests, 3.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 21 BMW 735 tests, 3.1% of the model's MOT record.
• "Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault" (Major) — noted on about 18 BMW 735 tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 17 BMW 735 tests, 2.5% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst BMW 735 Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest BMW 735 model year on record is 2002 (77.8% across 185 tests), and the weakest is 2003 (75.8%). The gap between them is 2.0 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for BMW 735 Owners

These checks follow this BMW 735's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a BMW 735.

• the lights — “srs malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a fault”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint excessively worn”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”

  Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the BMW 735. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: BMW 735 MOT & Reliability