2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 BMW 7 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

842 MOT tests in 2024. 82.4% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

128Well above average
Passed first time82.4%
Failed or needed repairs17.6%
Typical mileage at test108,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 842 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
    31 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    26 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.5%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.1%
    9 marked dangerous
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.0%
  9. Road Wheels - condition: fractured0.8%
    11 marked dangerous
  10. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.8%
    11 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension8.6%
  2. Tyres6.9%
  3. Lights & electrics4.0%
  4. Brakes3.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.6%
  6. Wheels1.4%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.2%
  8. Steering0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.3%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.2%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.5%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.3%

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: 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 2012 BMW 7 Series?

In 2024, 82.4% of 2012 BMW 7 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 842 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 BMW 7 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 BMW 7 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 128, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).