1995 BMW 740 4.0L Petrol · M1 BMW

The vehicle presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a clean pass on 21 July 2022 at 75,628 miles with only a minor windscreen note. That outcome marks a clear resolution of the multiple defects recorded in the preceding 2010 test, where the tester flagged relative movement in a steering arm fixing, an oil leak, a coolant leak, and the same windscreen damage. The recurrence of the windscreen note across 2010 and 2022 suggests a long-standing cosmetic chip outside the critical zone, but the steering and fluid leaks were evidently rectified before the 2022 test, indicating a period of active repair. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low and static. Between 4 October 2010 at 75,625 miles and 21 July 2022 at 75,628 miles, the vehicle covered just three miles over nearly twelve years. This points to prolonged periods of non-use rather than light daily driving. The earlier record shows more typical use, with 255 miles added between 28 March 2008 and 20 May 2009, and a further 32 miles before the September 2010 failure. The near-zero mileage accumulation since 2010 raises concerns about deterioration from standing rather than wear from use, particularly for perishable rubber components, seals, and fluids that degrade with age and lack of circulation. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on components vulnerable to age-related decay after such long dormancy. The repeated oil leak advisories in 2008 and 2009, combined with the 2010 coolant leak, warrant close examination of engine gaskets, oil seals, and coolant hoses for hardening, cracking, or weeping. The 2010 steering arm finding, though resolved, justifies checking all suspension bushes, track rod ends, and subframe mounts for perished rubber and corrosion, especially given the vehicle's age. Brake calipers, discs, and flexible hoses should be inspected for seizure or internal corrosion from standing, and the exhaust system should be checked for structural rust rather than consumable wear. The tyres must be assessed for date codes and sidewall cracking, as low mileage often masks aged rubber that is unsafe regardless of tread depth.