1997 · 27 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1997 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

203 MOT tests in 2024. 70.9% passed first time, compared with 65.5% for all cars the same age.

108Well above average
Passed first time70.9%
Failed or needed repairs29.1%
Typical mileage at test129,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 203 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.4%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  3. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid3.0%
  4. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.5%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.5%
  6. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.5%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value2.5%
    13 marked dangerous
  9. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits2.0%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    10 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes16.7%
  2. Suspension15.8%
  3. Lights & electrics13.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.9%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.4%
  6. Seat belts & airbags4.9%
  7. Body & chassis4.9%
  8. Tyres4.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.7%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine17.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm11.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.4%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 70.9% of 1997 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 203 tests. The average for all 27-year-old cars was 65.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1997 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; washers: provides insufficient washer liquid. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 1997 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).