Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 BMW 7 Series?

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 2018 BMW 7 Series?

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 2018 BMW 7 Series?

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.

How many 2018 BMW 7 Series vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2018 BMW 7 Series reliable?

Based on MOT data from 401 vehicles, the 2018 BMW 7 Series has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.7%, 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 2018 BMW 7 Series?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

BMW 7 Series (2018)

401 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.7% first-time pass rate

2018 BMW 7 Series

CarHunch analysed 401 real MOT records for the 2018 BMW 7 Series. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

Moderate sample. 401 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2018 BMW 7 Series is substantially more reliable than average, with a 92.7% first-time MOT pass rate against the UK average of 80%—and diesel variants lead the pack at 94.1%. However, one in five of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for a premium executive saloon and worth investigating on any example you're considering.

These cars are running at sensible mileages for their age (median 49,947 miles), and the relatively low failure rate of just 0.5 per vehicle masks a pattern of minor issues: the 2.8 average advisories suggest wear on trim, electronics, or suspension components rather than structural problems. Before purchase, get a pre-buy inspection that specifically addresses the dangerous defect history—ask the seller or your mechanic to check the MOT records for what those defects were, because they'll tell you what this particular car's weak points are.

The 2018 BMW 7 Series passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (92.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

21.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.5

Over 6.2 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 34k–74k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 401 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 401 BMW 7 Series cars.

Before you buy a 2018 BMW 7 Series

Based on MOT data from 401 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.7% 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 (45%)	180	94.1%	0.46
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (30%)	120	90.9%	0.57
Petrol (25%)	100	92.4%	0.5

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,173 BMW 7 Series vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 27.4%

2,514

Blue 19%

1,747

Grey 16.1%

1,480

Silver 15.3%

1,401

Green 8.1%

741

Red 5.8%

530

White 5.3%

485

Bronze 1%

Beige 0.6%

Purple 0.6%

Brown 0.4%

Gold 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 BMW 7 Series 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.

49,947

typical

34,103

low mileage

74,172

high mileage

Half of all 2018 BMW 7 Series vehicles fall between 34,103 and 74,172 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 34,103 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.

✓ 34,103–74,172 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 BMW 7 Seriess sit.

⚠ Over 100,132 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 BMW 7 Series — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 BMW 7 Seriess are still on the road.

Strong survival — 354 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

6.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.5

Avg failures per vehicle

2.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW 7 Series: All 7 Series years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 BMW 7 Series stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?