Does the BMW 7 Series fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The BMW 7 Series records 7.45 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 19.13 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−11.68, 95% interval −11.94 to −11.43). It ranks 634 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a BMW 7 Series by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 7 Series is “A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning”, recorded 1,322 times in 2019–2024.

BMW 7 Series: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	1,322	1.16
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	1,139	1.00
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources	717	0.63
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements	699	0.61
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective	650	0.57

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 114,240 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a BMW 7 Series gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?

18.3% of BMW 7 Series MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,138 miles later (1,039 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,039 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

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Does the BMW 7 Series fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

If a BMW 7 Series gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?

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Other pages for this model