2012 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
5,118 MOT tests on the 2012 BMW 7 Series are in this dataset, and 86.0% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 18.2% of the time, so this is 4.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.5%) and tyres (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and ball joint — pins and bushes alone was recorded 149 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 7 Series fails 13.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.5% in 2021 to 11.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.5% | 333 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 294 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 114 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 111 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 107 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 149 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 146 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 143 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 125 |
| 5 | Washers | 67 |
| 6 | Wipers | 58 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.1% | 1,132 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 731 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 703 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 447 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.7% | 242 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 176 |
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 | 82 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 474 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,321 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,503 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,006 | 13.2% |
| 150k+ | 730 | 10.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,836 | 14.1% |
| Petrol | 261 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,163 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 1,096 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 1,037 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 956 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 866 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 7 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2012 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 5,118 2012 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 BMW 7 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2012 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 10.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,118 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.