2013 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,447 MOT tests, the 2013 BMW 7 Series recorded an 84.9% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 16.9% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.3%) and tyres (6.2%) 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 tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 186 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 13.4% in the 150k+ band, a 5.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.9% in 2021 to 14.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.3% | 281 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.2% | 277 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 111 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 2.3% | 103 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 102 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 81 |
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 | 186 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 155 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 101 |
| 4 | Washers | 58 |
| 5 | Wipers | 55 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 55 |
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 | 19.3% | 860 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 564 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 444 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 256 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 233 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 116 |
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 | 63 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 626 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,359 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,229 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 637 | 16.6% |
| 150k+ | 529 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,050 | 15.5% |
| Petrol | 340 | 9.7% |
| Hybrid | 56 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 957 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 923 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 884 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 868 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 815 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 7 Series
On a 2013 7 Series, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 (6.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.5% 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 2013 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 4,447 2013 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 7 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.2%).
Does the 2013 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,447 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.