BMW 7 Series MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the BMW 7 Series. Check any 7 Series by registration number below.

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85.8%

Avg Pass Rate

-4.1%

vs BMW Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

BMW 7 Series — MOT Reliability Overview

The BMW 7 Series has an average MOT pass rate of 85.8%, which is 4.1 percentage points below the BMW brand average of 89.9%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 7 Series is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a BMW 7 Series fails its MOT are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. If you are preparing your 7 Series for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used BMW 7 Series, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the BMW 7 Series performs at MOT across different model years.

2022

Based on 382 vehicles

96.9%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

4.2%

Mileage at 3yr

79k mi

2021

Based on 1,406 vehicles

94.6%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

6.9%

Mileage at 3yr

66k mi

2020

Based on 1,168 vehicles

94.7%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.1%

Retest Rate

5.3%

Mileage at 3yr

51k mi

Mileage at 5yr

79k mi

2019

Based on 1,667 vehicles

93.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

8.2%

Mileage at 3yr

61k mi

Mileage at 5yr

83k mi

2018

Based on 1,292 vehicles

93.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

8.6%

Mileage at 5yr

93k mi

2017

Based on 1,498 vehicles

92.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

8.3%

Mileage at 5yr

101k mi

2016

Based on 449 vehicles

93.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

4.8%

2015

Based on 56 vehicles

78.6%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

8.3%

Retest Rate

33.3%

Mileage at 10yr

196k mi

2014

Based on 201 vehicles

84.6%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

15.2%

Mileage at 10yr

213k mi

2013

Based on 834 vehicles

81.8%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

18.9%

Mileage at 10yr

166k mi

2012

Based on 853 vehicles

86.0%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.1%

Retest Rate

9.7%

Mileage at 10yr

181k mi

2011

Based on 270 vehicles

81.5%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

14.5%

2010

Based on 211 vehicles

85.3%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

9.2%

2009

Based on 140 vehicles

75.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

65.6%

2008

Based on 175 vehicles

81.1%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

8.8%

2007

Based on 147 vehicles

83.7%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.7%

Retest Rate

21.0%

2006

Based on 220 vehicles

80.9%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

18.2%

2005

Based on 105 vehicles

81.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.9%

Retest Rate

22.2%

1998

Based on 44 vehicles

70.5%Average

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

6.9%

Retest Rate

13.8%

1997

Based on 40 vehicles

80.0%Good

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

16.7%

1996

Based on 45 vehicles

91.1%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

5.6%

0

Based on 3,812 vehicles

89.4%Excellent

BMW average: 89.9%

Mileage at 5yr

75k mi

Top MOT Failures — BMW 7 Series

The most common reasons a BMW 7 Series fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

5.0%

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

4.2%

A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

2.4%

Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel

1.8%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

1.4%

BMW 7 Series Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Rear Offside

1.0%

Rear Nearside

0.8%

Rear Offside Inner

0.5%

Other BMW Models

Compare MOT reliability across BMW models.

BMW 420d Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

90.4% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d Sport

87.3% pass rate

BMW X2 Sdrive18d M Sport X Auto

87.0% pass rate

BMW 550

82.4% pass rate

BMW 316 I

89.0% pass rate

BMW 540i Xdrive M Sport Mhev Auto

75.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for BMW 7 Series

BMW 7 Series — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the BMW 7 Series MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 7 Series?

The average MOT pass rate for the BMW 7 Series is 85.8% compared to the BMW average of 89.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 7 Series?

The most common MOT failures on the BMW 7 Series are: Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded (5.0%), A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (4.2%), A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (2.4%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the BMW 7 Series reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 85.8%, the BMW 7 Series is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a BMW 7 Series?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a BMW 7 Series?

Typical mileage for the BMW 7 Series: 78,859 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 7 Series to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your BMW 7 Series's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.