1985 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1985 BMW 6 Series passed 84.7% of its 426 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail at 15.7%, so the 1985 6 Series sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.3%) and visibility (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, washers and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.4% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 14.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.8% in 2021 to 10.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.3% | 31 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.4% | 23 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 23 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 2 | Washers | 21 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 14 |
| 5 | Wipers | 11 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.8% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 55 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 38 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 26 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 37 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 49 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 106 | 12.3% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 91 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 92 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 74 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 1985 6 Series
On a 1985 6 Series, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (5.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1985 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 426 1985 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1985 BMW 6 Series?
Brakes, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by visibility (5.4%).
Does the 1985 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 426 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.