How reliable is the BMW X7 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the BMW X7, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 85.9% across 2,595 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW X7?

The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 63.5% of failed BMW X7 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a BMW X7?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 22.6% of all BMW X7 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a BMW X7 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 43,014 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most BMW X7 models petrol or diesel?

Of the BMW X7 cars tested, 41% are diesel hybrid, 34% are diesel, 18% are petrol. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

BMW X7 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 2,595 recorded MOT tests of the BMW X7, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 2,595 MOT tests, 85.9% of BMW X7 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the BMW X7 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre seriously damaged, which appears in 63.5% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 43,014 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

85.9%unadjusted, not comparable2,595 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the X7. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 2,595 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed BMW X7 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A tyre seriously damaged63.5%
207 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.A tyre cords visible or damaged39.0%
127 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
3.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements11.7%
38 occurrencesRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained
4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.9%
29 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements8.3%
27 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
6.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning5.5%
18 occurrencesDirection indicator not working explained
7.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen4.0%
13 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
8.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction3.1%
10 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
9.Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel2.5%
8 occurrencesRoad wheel damaged, distorted or cracked explained
10.A tyre seriously damaged2.5%
8 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW X7 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements22.6%
587 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn4.1%
107 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged3.8%
98 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm3.4%
87 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.1%
80 tests
6.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements2.8%
73 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
7.Nail in tyre2.5%
66 tests
8.A tyre seriously damaged1.7%
43 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

What gets tested

The X7 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 43,014
Fuel mix of tested cars: Diesel hybrid40.9%
Diesel33.9%
Petrol17.7%
Hybrid7.5%

Trim names grouped into this model (7)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

X7 M50I
X7 M50I AUTO
X7 M60I XDRIVE MHEV AUTO
X7 XDRIVE40D M SPORT MHEV AUTO
X7 XDRIVE40D MHEV AUTO
X7 XDRIVE40I M SPORT MHEV AUTO
X7 XDRIVE40I MHEV AUTO

Check a specific BMW X7

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other BMW models

BMW 3 Series — 80.0% adjusted
BMW 1 Series — 77.6% adjusted
BMW 5 Series — 82.0% adjusted
BMW 2 Series — 82.9% adjusted
BMW X1 — 79.5% adjusted
BMW 4 Series — 83.2% adjusted
All BMW models

Common questions

How reliable is the BMW X7 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the BMW X7, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 85.9% across 2,595 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW X7?: The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 63.5% of failed BMW X7 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a BMW X7?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 22.6% of all BMW X7 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a BMW X7 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 43,014 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most BMW X7 models petrol or diesel?: Of the BMW X7 cars tested, 41% are diesel hybrid, 34% are diesel, 18% are petrol. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.