BMW X7: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW X7 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,162 individual BMW X7 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 15 in every 100 BMW X7s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW X7 tested had covered 43,106 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW X7 sits 7.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,267 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW X7 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged BMW X7s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW X7

1. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 1.3% of tests (6.98x the national rate for this defect)
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.9% of tests (3.91x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 5.3% of tests (3.18x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2% of tests
5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.8% of tests
7. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.6% of tests
8. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.5% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect)
9. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 0.3% of tests
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.3% of tests

From 1,163 DVSA-tracked BMW X7 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.04% of these flagged BMW X7 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW X7

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW X7 before it actually fails on it.

1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.1% of tests, also fails
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.3% of tests, also fails
3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.9% of tests
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.3% of tests, also fails
5. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.5% of tests
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 2% of tests
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 0.7% of tests
8. A tyre fouling a part of the vehicle, 0.3% of tests (62.72x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.2% of tests
10. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 0.2% of tests

From 1,163 DVSA-tracked BMW X7 tests, 2024.

BMW X7 pass rate by model year

From its 2019 to its 2020 model year, the BMW X7's first-time pass rate has risen 0.4 points, from 84.9% to 85.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW X7 year:

• 2019 BMW X7 - 84.9% first-time pass, 515 tests
• 2020 BMW X7 - 85.3% first-time pass, 550 tests

BMW X7 by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number.

• Diesel BMW X7 - 85.1% first-time pass, 872 tests
• Petrol BMW X7 - 86.3% first-time pass, 278 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• BMW 228 - 84.7%
• Ford Tourneo Custom - 84.6%
• Ford Tourneo Custom 320 Tnium Eblue - 84.6%
• Audi Rs4 - 84.6%
• Rolls Royce Silver Spirit - 84.6%
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 84.5%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate