2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

838 MOT tests in 2024. 80.2% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

130Well above average
Passed first time80.2%
Failed or needed repairs19.8%
Typical mileage at test118,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 838 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.1%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    26 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.9%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.6%
    20 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.1%
  7. Road Wheels - condition: fractured1.0%
    9 marked dangerous
  8. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.0%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.8%
    8 marked dangerous
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.8%
    8 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension11.6%
  2. Tyres6.2%
  3. Lights & electrics3.3%
  4. Brakes3.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.7%
  7. Wheels1.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.3%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine9.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.7%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2011 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 80.2% of 2011 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 838 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 130, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).