BMW 7 Series
From 8,095 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 7 Seriess fare better: 2022 models pass at 97% vs 87.8% for 2012.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and any fracture or welding defect on a wheel. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 160 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 160 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 128 |
| any fracture or welding defect on a wheel | 72 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 70 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 65 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 60 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 32 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 32 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 27 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 26 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 62.1% of 7 Series failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 9.7% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £116.
Fuel type matters
Hybrid versions pass at 92.5% while Diesel versions pass at 86%, a 7 percentage point gap.
BMW 7 Series on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 1,913 newly registered in the past year with 1,092 leaving, a net gain of 821.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 18,058 | 7,165 | +358 | -219 | +139 |
| 2025 Q2 | 17,981 | 7,103 | +553 | -268 | +285 |
| 2025 Q1 | 17,679 | 7,120 | +620 | -280 | +340 |
| 2024 Q4 | 17,338 | 7,121 | +382 | -325 | +57 |
| 2024 Q3 | 17,377 | 7,025 | +69 | -293 | -224 |
| 2024 Q2 | 17,703 | 6,923 | +183 | -202 | -19 |
| 2024 Q1 | 17,766 | 6,879 | +192 | -270 | -78 |
| 2023 Q4 | 17,944 | 6,779 | +151 | -351 | -200 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 730D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 2,117 | 17% |
| 730D Se Auto | Diesel | 1,802 | 15% |
| 730D Xdrive M Sport Auto | Diesel | 999 | 8% |
| 740D Xdrive M Sport Auto | Diesel | 835 | 7% |
| I7 Edrive50 M Sport | Battery Electric | 727 | 6% |
| 750E Xdrive M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 602 | 5% |
| 730Ld Se Auto | Diesel | 585 | 5% |
| 730D Sport Auto | Diesel | 544 | 4% |
| 740Ld Xdrive M Sport Auto | Diesel | 527 | 4% |
| 730Ld M Sport Auto | Diesel | 472 | 4% |
| 728I Auto | Petrol | 463 | 4% |
| 730D M Sport Mhev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Diesel) | 361 | 3% |
| 740I Auto | Gas | 325 | 3% |
| I7 Xdrive60 M Sport | Battery Electric | 317 | 3% |
| 745Le Xdrive M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 299 | 2% |
| 730D Auto | Diesel | 286 | 2% |
| I7 Edrive50 Excellence | Battery Electric | 285 | 2% |
| 745E M Sport Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 276 | 2% |
| 750E Xdrive Excellence Auto | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 253 | 2% |
| 730Ld Auto | Diesel | 244 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 97% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 92.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 94.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2019 | 93.4% | any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, a tyre seriously damaged |
11 earlier years
| 2018 | 93% | a tyre seriously damaged, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 2017 | 91.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 94% | a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 82.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 2013 | 79.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2012 | 87.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 78.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 80.3% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, any fracture or welding defect on a wheel |
| 2009 | 83.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2008 | 76.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 78.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
Typical mileage
Half of all 7 Seriess tested had between 83,308 and 163,371 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 105,375 median miles, the 7 Series has 0.01 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate?
The BMW 7 Series has a 89.9% MOT pass rate based on 8,095 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 7 Series?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 7 Series is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 160 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many BMW 7 Seriess are on UK roads?
There are 18,058 BMW 7 Seriess currently licensed on UK roads, with 7,165 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 7 Series at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 7 Series is 105,375 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 83,308 and 163,371 miles.
Buying a used 7 Series?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.