BMW 6 Series
From 11,220 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 6 Seriess fare better: 2020 models pass at 91.5% vs 87.2% for 2012.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 242 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 242 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 130 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 116 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 116 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 74 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 63 |
| a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud | 45 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 44 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 39 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 37 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.9% of 6 Series failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 50.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £117.
BMW 6 Series on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 539 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 13 newly registered, a net loss of 526. At this rate, roughly 44.9 years until none remain.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 19,565 | 4,167 | +3 | -157 | -154 |
| 2025 Q2 | 19,786 | 4,100 | +2 | -86 | -84 |
| 2025 Q1 | 19,633 | 4,337 | +5 | -126 | -121 |
| 2024 Q4 | 19,845 | 4,246 | +3 | -170 | -167 |
| 2024 Q3 | 20,405 | 3,853 | +9 | -151 | -142 |
| 2024 Q2 | 20,730 | 3,670 | +13 | -21 | -8 |
| 2024 Q1 | 20,675 | 3,733 | +0 | -302 | -302 |
| 2023 Q4 | 20,971 | 3,739 | +2 | -160 | -158 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 640D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 6,252 | 34% |
| 640D M Sport Gran Coupe Auto | Diesel | 1,988 | 11% |
| 630I Sport Auto | Petrol | 1,676 | 9% |
| 635D Sport Auto | Diesel | 1,240 | 7% |
| 645 Ci Auto | Petrol | 1,090 | 6% |
| 630D Xdrive M Sport Auto | Diesel | 880 | 5% |
| 650I Sport Auto | Petrol | 667 | 4% |
| 640D Se Auto | Diesel | 618 | 3% |
| 630I Auto | Gas | 540 | 3% |
| 630D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 526 | 3% |
| 630I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 477 | 3% |
| 640I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 447 | 2% |
| 620D M Sport Auto | Diesel | 367 | 2% |
| 640I Xdrive M Sport Auto | Petrol | 363 | 2% |
| 635 Csi Auto | Petrol | 355 | 2% |
| 640I Se Turbo Auto | Petrol | 355 | 2% |
| 640D Se Gran Coupe Auto | Diesel | 208 | 1% |
| 650I M Sport Auto | Petrol | 191 | 1% |
| 620D Xdrive M Sport Auto | Diesel | 164 | <1% |
| 640I Se Auto | Petrol | 152 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2019 | 90.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 91.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2017 | 86.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
9 earlier years
| 2013 | 82.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2012 | 87.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 90.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, emissions test unable to be completed |
| 2010 | 81.5% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2009 | 84.5% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view |
| 2008 | 77% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 80.9% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 78.1% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 66.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all 6 Seriess tested had between 36,299 and 88,567 miles on the clock.
At 50,811 median miles, the 6 Series has 0.024 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other BMW models
| BMW 3 Series | 79.2% |
| BMW 118 | 82.8% |
| BMW 116 | 78.9% |
| BMW X5 | 85.4% |
| BMW X3 | 83.9% |
Common questions
What is the BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate?
The BMW 6 Series has a 87.8% MOT pass rate based on 11,220 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a BMW 6 Series?
The most common MOT failure on the BMW 6 Series is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 242 failures. Other common issues include a tyre cords visible or damaged.
How many BMW 6 Seriess are on UK roads?
There are 19,565 BMW 6 Seriess currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,167 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a BMW 6 Series at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a BMW 6 Series is 50,811 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 36,299 and 88,567 miles.
Buying a used 6 Series?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.