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BMW 7 Series reliability by build year

Coverage 2002-present4 named generationsSaloonPETROL / UNKNOWN / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

BMW 7 Series built around 2018: about average at the MOT

BMW 7 Series models built around 2018 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a BMW 7 Series by number plate

Key figure

9% of MOT tests on BMW 7 Series models built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 10% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on BMW 7 Series models built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The BMW 7 Series's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Over the last three years, fail rates rose, then fell back. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your 7 Series's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

7 Series G70

G70 (2022-present)

Too close to call between ratings
HYBRID ELECTRICPETROLDIESELUNKNOWN

7.1% fail rate, built around 2022 (3 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 10 MOTs, 10.1%)

From 1,025 MOT tests at this ageView details →
7 Series G11/G12

G11/G12 (2015-2021)

Excellent
HYBRID ELECTRICPETROLDIESELUNKNOWN

8.9% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 1,659 MOT tests at this ageView details →
7 Series F01/F02

F01/F02 (2008-2014)

Excellent
PETROLDIESEL

14.8% fail rate, built around 2013 (12 years old)

Likely between 11.2% and 19.2%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 26.3%)

From 305 MOT tests at this ageView details →
7 Series E65/E66

E65/E66 (2002-2007)

Excellent
PETROLDIESEL

22.9% fail rate, built around 2007 (18 years old)

Likely between 20.0% and 26.0%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.3%)

From 766 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the BMW 7 Series.

See every build year for the BMW 7 Series

Side-by-side

BMW 7 Series generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
G70 (2022-present)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings7.1%built around 2022 (3 years old)from 1,025 MOT tests at this age
G11/G12 (2015-2021)
Excellent
Excellent8.9%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 1,659 MOT tests at this age
F01/F02 (2008-2014)
Excellent
Excellent14.8%likely between 11.2% and 19.2%built around 2013 (12 years old)from 305 MOT tests at this age
E65/E66 (2002-2007)
Excellent
Excellent22.9%likely between 20.0% and 26.0%built around 2007 (18 years old)from 766 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the 7 Series, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

BMW 7 Series fail rate by age

This chart combines every BMW 7 Series ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
5505.8%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
7907.2%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
1,2427.7%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
1,8778.9%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
1,6598.9%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
1,8749.9%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
1,20412.0%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
86713.5%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
94315.7%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
76914.6%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
98816.1%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
70413.8%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
61513.7%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
54319.3%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
65018.1%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
76622.9%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
70222.2%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
35223.9%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
31223.4%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
17525.7%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
25423.2%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
33923.0%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
1,58622.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 22 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the BMW 7 Series stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other BMW models

1st of 16

Among the lowest fail rates of the 16 BMW models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the lowest third

Against other saloons

2nd of 29

2nd lowest fail rate of 29 saloons with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the lowest third

Against the UK average

8.9%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old BMW 7 Series models

These issues come from 7-year-old BMW 7 Series models, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    14.0%
    Advisory: 381Fail: 19 (5% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    4.5%
    Advisory: 84Fail: 2 (2% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    4.0%
    Advisory: 57Fail: 36 (39% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    3.0%
    Advisory: 59Fail: 4 (6% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Prop shaft coupling slightly deteriorated

    3.0%
    Advisory: 50Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,659 MOT tests on 7-year-old BMW 7 Series models, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old BMW 7 Series models notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelNot much data
  1. Brakes + Tyres29%
  2. Other + Tyres25%
  3. Brakes + Other14%
  4. Tyres + Windscreen & wipers11%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 187 MOT tests on BMW 7 Series cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

80%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · Fewer than typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

65 recalls in all

39 of the 65 BMW 7 Series recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 6 Critical
  • 33 more

Top concerns

  • Exhaust gas recirculation module cooler could leak
  • Possibility of fire
  • Short circuit may occur

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other saloons to compare

Other saloons to compare

  1. 1

    Lexus IS

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.4%
    Dangerous
    3.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    79.4%

    Fewer fails still not passed 3 days later: 1.4%, against 2.5% for the BMW 7 Series.

    1,615 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Porsche Panamera

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4%
    Dangerous
    5.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    86.2%

    More still registered at 10 years: 86%, against 80% for the BMW 7 Series.

    1,105 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Mercedes-Benz CLS

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    3.5%
    Dangerous
    6.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    83.3%

    No clear edge over the BMW 7 Series on these figures.

    1,155 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.8%
    Dangerous
    3.7%
    Still registered at 10 years
    74.5%

    No clear edge over the BMW 7 Series on these figures.

    2,348 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the BMW 7 Series across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. It has among the lowest fail rates of the 16 BMW models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 1,659 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every BMW 7 Series ever sold: 20,590 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 1,659 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.