2006 BMW 730 MOT pass rate: 75.0% (1,833 tests)
Is the 2006 730 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2006-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.0% +10.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 73.5% +9.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 76.8% +11.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2006 730
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 406 | 26.2% |
| 2 | Brakes | 318 | 20.5% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 258 | 16.6% |
| 4 | Tyres | 188 | 12.1% |
| 5 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 100 | 6.5% |
| 6 | Visibility | 90 | 5.8% |
All 730 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (this page) | 1,833 | 75.0% | +10.6 pts | 146,403 |
| 2011 | 1,908 | 82.7% | +13.5 pts | 118,992 |
| 2014 | 2,088 | 84.6% | +8.7 pts | 95,823 |
| 2015 | 1,710 | 86.4% | +7.6 pts | 87,006 |
| 2016 | 2,525 | 90.4% | +9.0 pts | 79,278 |
| 2017 | 2,138 | 90.4% | +6.3 pts | 68,015 |
| 2018 | 1,902 | 92.2% | +5.8 pts | 59,620 |
| 2019 | 2,197 | 93.4% | +4.9 pts | 48,748 |
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2006 BMW 730 reliable?
2006-registered examples passed 75.0% of their MOT tests (1,833 tests, 2023–2025), +10.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 20 years old with a median 146,403 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2006 730?
The median tested example shows 146,403 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.