How reliable is the BMW 740?
Owner-reported reliability data: inspection results, typical mileage, and the most common failures.
The BMW 740 consistently passes first-time inspections at an above-average rate. The most commonly reported issues are a tyre seriously damaged, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. Typical mileage by age and a year-by-year breakdown of reliability are shown below. All figures are owner-reported real-world data, not a marketing rating.
Above average reliability
Based on 1,837 inspection tests. First-time pass rate: 92.1%.
BMW 740 reliability by year
How the BMW 740 performs at first-time inspection, broken down by the year cohort. Empty cells mean we don't have enough owner-reported data for that year yet.
| Year cohort | Pass rate | Typical mileage @ 5 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 74.8% | – |
| 1996 | 82.8% | – |
| 1997 | 74.1% | – |
| 1998 | 81.4% | – |
| 1999 | 83.1% | – |
| 2000 | 81.6% | – |
| 2001 | 82.1% | – |
| 2009 | 81.1% | – |
| 2010 | 85.7% | – |
| 2011 | 84.4% | – |
| 2012 | 88.5% | – |
| 2013 | 87.6% | – |
| 2014 | 90.9% | – |
| 2015 | 90.2% | – |
| 2016 | 93.4% | – |
| 2017 | 90.6% | 101,784 km |
| 2018 | 92.1% | 87,801 km |
| 2019 | 95% | 82,250 km |
| 2020 | 95.9% | 69,854 km |
| 2021 | 98.1% | – |
Model-level pattern, not per-car prediction
These figures describe the BMW 740 as a model. The reliability of any individual BMW 740 also depends on service history, accident history, and how it was driven. Run a free VIN check to see the records attached to a specific car you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW 740 reliable?
Based on owner-reported inspection records, the BMW 740 consistently passes first-time inspections at an above-average rate. Its first-time inspection pass rate sits around 92%. Reliability varies by year and engine: see the year-by-year breakdown on this page for the specific cohort you're considering.
What are the common problems on the BMW 740?
The most common owner-reported issues are: A tyre seriously damaged (0.9% of inspections); A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (0.7% of inspections); Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (0.7% of inspections).
What mileage is normal for a BMW 740?
For a typical BMW 740, owner-reported average mileage works out to about – at 3 years, 87,801 km at 5 years, and – at 10 years. The mileage section on this page shows the full distribution, high-use vs low-use cars often differ by a factor of three.
How do I check a specific BMW 740 before buying?
Enter the 17-character VIN on Carlytics. The free check shows decoded specs and open safety recalls. The full vehicle history report (from EUR 8.90) cross-references owner-reported issues, mileage records, and stolen-vehicle databases for the specific car, model-level reliability tells you the pattern, the VIN check tells you the car.