2018 BMW 7 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
8,856 MOT tests on the 2018 BMW 7 Series are in this dataset, and 92.4% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 3.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests against 1.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 120 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 7 Series fails 7.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 7.4% fail against 9.0% for hybrid, a 1.5-point gap across 7,967 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 404 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 94 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 92 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 65 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 61 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 55 |
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 | 120 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 90 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 69 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 5 | Joints | 49 |
| 6 | Washers | 45 |
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 | 15.5% | 1,376 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 541 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 304 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 229 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 228 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 75 |
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 | 2,317 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,620 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,818 | 7.4% |
| 90-120k | 668 | 8.5% |
| 120-150k | 242 | 8.7% |
| 150k+ | 155 | 5.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,264 | 7.4% |
| Petrol | 889 | 7.9% |
| Hybrid | 703 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,873 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 1,816 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,780 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 1,726 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 1,661 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 7 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2018 BMW 7 Seriess pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 8,856 2018 BMW 7 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW 7 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2018 7 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 5.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,856 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.