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BMW 6 Series reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 178,649 MOT tests of cars first registered 1989–2019.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
78.3%pass first time
+10.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 94%of cars
178,649MOT tests

Verdict

The BMW 6 Series passes its MOT first time on 78.3% of tests, 10.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (67.7%). That puts it ahead of 94% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2008 6 Series does best (beats 99% of cars) and the 2017 worst (beats 71%).

Of its engines, the 3.0 Petrol does best (beats 95%) and the 3.0 Diesel worst (beats 92%).

Better than average on suspension, lights & electrics, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Wheels2.7×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking1.8×as often as a typical car
Airbag warning light1.4×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%3456789101112131415161718192083%84%83%81%78%73%72%72%71%
BMW 6 SeriesTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

1989
Beats 94%
2004
Beats 93%
2005
Beats 92%
2006
Beats 94%
2007
Beats 97%
2008
Beats 99%
2009
Beats 98%
2010
Beats 98%
2011
Beats 97%
2012
Beats 97%
2013
Beats 93%
2014
Beats 87%
2015
Beats 85%
2016
Beats 83%
2017
Beats 71%
2018
Beats 83%
2019
Beats 93%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel2007–2019113,05081.1%Beats 92%A
3.0 Petrol2005–201836,31974.3%Beats 95%A
4.4 Petrol2004–200516,83168.7%Beats 93%A
4.8 Petrol2005–20077,55172.8%Beats 96%A
2.0 Diesel2019–20191,97488.5%Beats 95%A
2.0 Petrol2018–20181,83290.3%Beats 98%A
3.4 Petrol1989–19891,09278.7%Beats 94%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 5.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 5.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 8.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 5.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+8.7 ptsTyres: 8.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.5 ptsBrakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.7 ptsSuspension: 5.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.9 ptsExhaust: 1.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.2 ptsSuspension: 5.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 8.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 5.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 5.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 13.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+8.7 ptsTyres: 8.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−1.5 ptsBrakes: 3.3% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.7 ptsSuspension: 5.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.9 ptsExhaust: 1.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.2 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 8.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
8.5% vs 7.0%
Suspension
5.6% vs 10.5%
Lights & electrics
5.0% vs 13.7%
Brakes
3.3% vs 8.0%
Visibility
2.8% vs 5.3%
Emissions & leaks
1.5% vs 3.7%
Steering
1.3% vs 2.2%
Wheels
1.1% vs 0.4%
Seat belts & airbags
1.0% vs 1.3%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 4.1%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 1.8× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k86%85%82%79%75%72%70%69%
BMW 6 SeriesTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking6.5%3.7%1.8×
Coil springs2.2%2.7%0.8×
Tyre tread depth1.7%3.0%0.6×
Windscreen washers1.5%2.4%0.6×
Sidelights1.3%3.3%0.4×
Headlight aim1.3%3.8%0.3×
Suspension ball joints1.2%1.7%0.7×
Windscreen wipers1.0%2.4%0.4×
Headlight bulbs & units1.0%2.6%0.4×
Track rod ends1.0%1.6%0.6×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A tyre seriously damaged39.3
A tyre cords visible or damaged25.3
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened21.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn19.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen15.2
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc13.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements13.0
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2019 BMW 6 Series2 engines88.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel1,97488.5%Beats 95%A
3.0 Diesel1,70087.7%Beats 90%A
2018 BMW 6 Series3 engines86.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel9,50085.5%Beats 77%B
2.0 Petrol1,83290.3%Beats 98%A
3.0 Petrol1,68288.4%Beats 90%A
2017 BMW 6 Series2 engines84.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel7,54084.1%Beats 71%B
3.0 Petrol1,17585.4%Beats 69%B
2016 BMW 6 Series1 engine83.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel13,18983.9%Beats 83%A
2015 BMW 6 Series2 engines82.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel16,08382.5%Beats 85%A
3.0 Petrol1,49286.7%Beats 94%A
2014 BMW 6 Series1 engine80.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel17,46880.6%Beats 87%A
2013 BMW 6 Series1 engine79.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel17,24579.4%Beats 93%A
2012 BMW 6 Series2 engines79.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel13,01479.6%Beats 97%A
3.0 Petrol1,00081.9%Beats 96%A
2011 BMW 6 Series2 engines80.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol2,96479.4%Beats 96%A
3.0 Diesel1,82081.0%Beats 99%A
2010 BMW 6 Series1 engine76.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel4,23676.8%Beats 98%A
2009 BMW 6 Series2 engines76.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel4,11675.6%Beats 98%A
3.0 Petrol1,13778.7%Beats 99%A
2008 BMW 6 Series2 engines76.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Diesel5,35675.7%Beats 99%A
3.0 Petrol3,98476.7%Beats 99%A
2007 BMW 6 Series3 engines74.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol7,15073.7%Beats 97%A
4.8 Petrol2,32474.0%Beats 96%A
3.0 Diesel1,78375.0%Beats 99%A
2006 BMW 6 Series2 engines70.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol9,30269.7%Beats 94%A
4.8 Petrol4,10872.0%Beats 95%A
2005 BMW 6 Series3 engines68.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.0 Petrol6,43367.3%Beats 90%A
4.4 Petrol5,23468.9%Beats 92%A
4.8 Petrol1,11973.4%Beats 97%A
2004 BMW 6 Series1 engine68.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.4 Petrol11,59768.6%Beats 93%A
1989 BMW 6 Series1 engine78.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.4 Petrol1,09278.7%Beats 94%A

FAQ

What is the BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate?

78.3% of MOT tests on the BMW 6 Series were passed first time, based on 178,649 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1989–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 67.7% of the time.

Is the BMW 6 Series reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 94% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which BMW 6 Series year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2008 6 Series does best for its age and mileage: it beats 99% of cars on UK roads. The 2017 does worst: it beats 71%.

Which BMW 6 Series engine is best?

Across all years, the 3.0 Petrol does best: it beats 95% of cars on UK roads. The 3.0 Diesel does worst: it beats 92%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW 6 Series?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, coil springs, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 1.8× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.