1999 · 25 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1999 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

248 MOT tests in 2024. 75.0% passed first time, compared with 63.3% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time75.0%
Failed or needed repairs25.0%
Typical mileage at test127,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 248 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.8%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%
  3. Washers: not working2.0%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
    17 marked dangerous
  5. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.0%
  6. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength1.6%
  7. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.6%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.2%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
    5 marked dangerous
  10. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension12.9%
  2. Brakes8.5%
  3. Lights & electrics8.1%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.2%
  6. Tyres4.8%
  7. Seat belts & airbags2.8%
  8. Body & chassis2.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine26.6%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded21.0%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm8.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.3%
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated6.5%

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 1999 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 75.0% of 1999 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 248 tests. The average for all 25-year-old cars was 63.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1999 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: not working. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 1999 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 119, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).