1995 BMW 740 4.0L Petrol · N691 ALS

A thirty-one year old 740 with 119,678 miles carries a mixed MOT record dominated by chronic corrosion advisories on the fuel lines alongside a cluster of braking and suspension defects recorded in the 2015 to 2018 testing window. The most recent entry on 13 May 2024 returned a clean pass with no advisories or defects recorded, and the prior test on 12 June 2023 was similarly unblemished, suggesting that the most pressing mechanical issues surfaced earlier in the decade and have since been resolved or have not yet recurred. However, the earlier failures, including the dangerous parking brake defect and the broken nearside front coil spring in 2017, the binding rear brakes and failed stop lamp in 2016, and the imbalanced front brakes in 2018, point to an underlying pattern of wear across the brake and suspension systems that is consistent with a vehicle of this age and platform. The persistence of fuel line corrosion advisories across three consecutive tests from 2016 to 2017 is the most telling long-term finding, as corrosion in this area on E38 chassis vehicles is known to progress if left untreated. The recorded mileage of 119,678 miles over approximately 31 years equates to an average annual accumulation of around 3,861 miles, which is low for a vehicle of this age and suggests either long periods of standing, very limited use, or extended gaps between tests. The MOT history itself shows large intervals between examinations, with no recorded tests between 2018 and 2023, indicating that the car was either off the road, exempt from testing, or simply not presented during that five year window. Vehicles that have stood for extended periods typically suffer from perished rubber components including brake hoses, suspension bushes, and anti-roll bar linkages, as well as seized calipers and degraded fuel and brake lines. The combination of low average mileage and the age of the car means that consumable rubber and polymer items flagged in the earlier advisories are likely to be at or beyond their intended service life, even if the recent tests were clean. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection areas should mirror exactly those flagged in the DVSA record. The fuel line corrosion advisories from 2016 and 2017 warrant a thorough physical inspection underneath the vehicle, paying particular attention to the lines running along the chassis rails and near the rear axle; listen for fuel odours when the engine is running from cold and check for any staining or weeping at joints. The earlier coil spring failure on the nearside front and the brake binding issues on both rear calipers from 2016 suggest that the suspension and brake hydraulic system should be examined carefully; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces which would suggest perished top mounts, thrust arms, or anti-roll bar bushes, and feel for any pulling to one side under braking that may indicate a seizing caliper or a flexible hose that has collapsed internally. The handbrake mechanism that was deemed excessively worn and recorded little or no effort in 2017 should be tested on an incline, confirming that the lever ratchet holds firmly and that the rear brakes are actually engaging rather than relying on the transmission park function. The brake disc wear advisories from 2015 and 2018, both front and rear, together with the fluctuating brake note and imbalance failure, indicate that the discs and pads will likely require attention again if they have not been renewed since. During a road test, pedal feel should be firm and progressive rather than spongy, and any judder through the pedal or steering wheel under braking would suggest warped or unevenly worn discs. The gearbox oil leak advisory from 2016 should be inspected by checking the underside for fresh seepage around the sump and selector housing, while the rear differential oil leak noted in 2017 requires a similar visual check at the back axle. Given the age of the car and the pattern of advisories relating to underbody corrosion and fluid leaks, a raised inspection on a ramp or a boroscope examination of structural mounting points, subframe seams, and brake pipe runs would be strongly advisable before purchase.