2020 BMW X7 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,227 MOT tests on the 2020 BMW X7 are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. That is 3.0 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 9.2% of all tests — 7.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 36 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 X7 fails 13.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.1% of the time against 12.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.2% in 2022 to 10.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.2% | 204 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 49 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 17 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.7% | 16 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 26 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 15 |
| 5 | Washers | 14 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 11 |
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 | 17.3% | 385 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.3% | 140 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 119 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 83 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 55 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 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 | 824 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,126 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 240 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,675 | 12.4% |
| Petrol | 552 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 37 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 761 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 724 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 704 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 X7
On a 2020 X7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (9.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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 2020 BMW X7s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 2,227 2020 BMW X7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW X7?
Tyres, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2020 X7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,227 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.