2017 · 7 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2017 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

1,644 MOT tests in 2024. 88.7% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

111Well above average
Passed first time88.7%
Failed or needed repairs11.3%
Typical mileage at test66,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,644 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.7%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed0.9%
    20 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.9%
    18 marked dangerous
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm0.7%
    25 marked dangerous
  7. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.5%
  8. Side repeaters: not working0.5%
  9. Road Wheels - condition: fractured0.5%
    15 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres5.6%
  2. Body & chassis2.3%
  3. Emissions & leaks1.8%
  4. Lights & electrics1.4%
  5. Brakes1.0%
  6. Wheels0.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.7%
  8. Suspension0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.7%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick4.0%
  3. Flexible couplings: excessively deteriorated2.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened2.6%
  5. Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm1.9%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2017 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 88.7% of 2017 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,644 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2017 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 111, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).