2006 · 18 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2006 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

811 MOT tests in 2024. 69.5% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

124Well above average
Passed first time69.5%
Failed or needed repairs30.5%
Typical mileage at test138,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 811 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working4.8%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.7%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.6%
  4. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.5%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.1%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    42 marked dangerous
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    23 marked dangerous
  9. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.5%
  10. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.5%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension17.0%
  2. Lights & electrics13.9%
  3. Brakes11.0%
  4. Tyres7.5%
  5. Seat belts & airbags5.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.1%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.8%
  8. Steering2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine24.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.1%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn17.9%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.1%
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated8.3%

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: position lamp: not working. 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 2006 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 69.5% of 2006 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 811 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 124, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).