2019 BMW X7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,431 MOT tests, the 2019 BMW X7 recorded an 86.9% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2019 X7 comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 9.3% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 57 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 8.6% once past 90-120k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (13.9% vs 11.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
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 14.7% in 2022 to 13.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.3% | 225 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 41 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.4% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 30 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 57 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 5 | Washers | 22 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 18 |
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% | 468 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 159 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 148 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 81 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 69 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 13 |
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 | 804 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,212 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 340 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 58 | 8.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,754 | 13.9% |
| Petrol | 677 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 612 | 14.7% |
| 2023 | 617 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 589 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 598 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 X7
On a 2019 X7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (9.3% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (1.4% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2019 BMW X7s pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 2,431 2019 BMW X7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 BMW X7?
Tyres, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2019 X7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,431 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.