Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2007 BMW 320d SE?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2007 BMW 320d SE?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2007 BMW 320d SE?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2007 BMW 320d SE reliable?

Based on MOT data from 637 vehicles, the 2007 BMW 320d SE has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2007 BMW 320d SE?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW 320d SE (2007)

637 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.8% first-time pass rate

2007 BMW 320d SE

CarHunch analysed 637 real MOT records for the 2007 BMW 320d SE. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2007 BMW 320D SE is a genuinely unreliable proposition at MOT time, with only 48.4% passing first time against the UK average of 80%—you're looking at roughly a coin flip that it'll sail through without work needed. The complete absence of dangerous defects is a small mercy, but the average 0.96 failures per vehicle tells you these cars rack up real problems when they reach the test station.

At 154,000 miles on average, these are high-mileage examples, and the median carhunch_score of 50 reflects a car that's genuinely showing its age. Before buying one, budget hard for repair costs: get a pre-purchase inspection from a BMW-familiar mechanic and factor in imminent work on the suspension, cooling system, or fuel injection that commonly trips up this generation.

The 2007 BMW 320d SE passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (76.8%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

First-time pass

76.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.96

Over 3.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

151k

Middle half: 130k–173k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

These stats describe 637 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 637 BMW 320d SE cars.

Before you buy a 2007 BMW 320d SE

Based on MOT data from 637 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	634	77%	0.95

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,558 BMW 320d SE vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.7%

1,171

Silver 23.3%

1,060

Blue 21.1%

960

Grey 17.2%

784

Red 5.2%

235

Green 3.7%

170

White 2.9%

134

Bronze 0.5%

Purple 0.2%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2007 BMW 320d SE vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

151,389

typical

129,773

low mileage

173,140

high mileage

Half of all 2007 BMW 320d SE vehicles fall between 129,773 and 173,140 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 129,773 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 129,773–173,140 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2007 BMW 320d SEs sit.

⚠ Over 233,739 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2007 BMW 320d SE — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 2007 BMW 320d SEs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 105 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (29% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

3.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.96

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 320d SE: All 320d SE years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2007 BMW 320d SE stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?