2006 Bmw 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,651 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Bmw 7 Series, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 79.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.0% | 563 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 511 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 417 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 307 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 240 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.0% | 223 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 300 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 237 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 221 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 217 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 203 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 195 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.1% | 1,702 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.6% | 1,616 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 1,521 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 1,462 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.7% | 493 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 452 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 46 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 208 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 560 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,154 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,463 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,204 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,587 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 1,064 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,419 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 1,304 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 1,136 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 973 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 819 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 7 Series
Before buying a 2006 Bmw 7 Series, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 10.0% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (10.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2006 Bmw 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 5,651 2006 Bmw 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Bmw 7 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.0%).
Does the 2006 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,651 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.