2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2005 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

473 MOT tests in 2024. 72.3% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

128Well above average
Passed first time72.3%
Failed or needed repairs27.7%
Typical mileage at test130,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 473 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.0%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.5%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%
  5. Position lamp: not working2.3%
  6. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.1%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    18 marked dangerous
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.9%
  9. Headlamp aim: too high1.7%
  10. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%
    12 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension15.4%
  2. Brakes11.8%
  3. Lights & electrics9.7%
  4. Tyres6.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.0%
  8. Steering1.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine22.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn20.5%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.8%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.9%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn9.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 72.3% of 2005 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 473 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2005 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 128, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).