2007 · 17 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2007 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

560 MOT tests in 2024. 74.1% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

130Well above average
Passed first time74.1%
Failed or needed repairs25.9%
Typical mileage at test140,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 560 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.1%
  2. Position lamp: not working4.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.9%
  4. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.9%
  5. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.7%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    17 marked dangerous
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.4%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.3%
    10 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension13.4%
  2. Lights & electrics12.1%
  3. Brakes8.6%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  5. Tyres5.0%
  6. Seat belts & airbags3.4%
  7. Emissions & leaks2.5%
  8. Wheels0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine22.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.1%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.7%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. 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 2007 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 74.1% of 2007 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 560 tests. The average for all 17-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2007 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2007 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 130, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).