2014 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
5,326 MOT tests on the 2014 BMW 7 Series are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (15.4% fail rate), the 2014 7 Series comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and suspension (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 178 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 7 Series fails 12.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 15.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.8% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 326 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.0% | 211 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 123 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 110 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 2.0% | 105 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 104 |
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 | 178 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 100 |
| 3 | Wipers | 77 |
| 4 | Washers | 64 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 54 |
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 | 20.0% | 1,066 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 670 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 468 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 282 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 228 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 106 |
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 | 157 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,027 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,689 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,340 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 673 | 12.2% |
| 150k+ | 437 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,761 | 13.3% |
| Petrol | 413 | 15.0% |
| Hybrid | 152 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,173 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 1,076 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 1,068 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,034 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 975 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 7 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2014 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 5,326 2014 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW 7 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by suspension (4.0%).
Does the 2014 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,326 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.