2016 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,471 MOT tests, the 2016 BMW 7 Series recorded a 91.5% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2016 7 Series comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and road wheels.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests against 1.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and joints — tread depth alone was recorded 143 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.8% in the 0-30k band and 11.7% in the 150k+ band, a 5.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.1% fail against 8.7% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 8,304 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 426 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 103 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 95 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 89 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 80 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 77 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 143 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 99 |
| 3 | Joints | 79 |
| 4 | Washers | 67 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
| 6 | Attachment | 62 |
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 | 15.4% | 1,302 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 646 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 324 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 265 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 213 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 181 |
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 | 776 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,029 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,696 | 9.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,241 | 8.6% |
| 120-150k | 437 | 8.2% |
| 150k+ | 282 | 11.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,302 | 8.7% |
| Petrol | 1,002 | 7.1% |
| Hybrid | 167 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,814 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 1,758 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 1,682 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 1,631 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 1,586 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 7 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.0% 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 (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Road wheels (1.1% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
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 2016 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 8,471 2016 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW 7 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2016 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,471 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.