BMW
3,451 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where X7s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.2%
Pass-after-fix
2.1%
Fail
9.0%
Avg miles
43,224
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 3,451 tests
Pass rate drops 5.7 points across the cohorts — recent X7 examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
88.5%
Fail
8.9%
PRS
1.9%
Avg mileage at test
43,556 mi
Pass
82.8%
Fail
9.7%
PRS
6.2%
Avg mileage at test
38,478 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,257 MOT tests, the X7 returns 85.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 33,768, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
44–50
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A tyre seriously damaged
177 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
73 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
55 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
24 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
19 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
15 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
14 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator
9 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
8 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Tyre obviously under inflated
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£135–£225
If every one of this X7's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 5.7-point gap between bands means the year you buy BMW X7 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
88.5%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 88.5% — a 5.7-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, has ply or cords exposed — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
82.8%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 82.8% pass rate against a fleet average of 88.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, has ply or cords exposed, and has a tear, caused by separation or…. Average mileage on test for this band is 38,478 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (88.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (82.8% pass). That's a 5.7-point spread across 227 older tests and 3,224 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Recall history
The X7 has 12 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an X7 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
