2004 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 BMW 6 Series passed 78.3% of its 7,221 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.0%) and lighting & signalling (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, coil spring and pins and bushes — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 358 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.0% | 795 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 645 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 510 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 333 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 310 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 281 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 358 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 306 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 294 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 256 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 251 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 227 |
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 | 30.6% | 2,211 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 29.9% | 2,161 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.7% | 1,854 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,744 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 617 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 361 |
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 | 81 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 530 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,672 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,613 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,686 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 636 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,713 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 1,583 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 1,495 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 1,274 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 1,156 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 6 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.1% 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.
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 2004 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 7,221 2004 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 BMW 6 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.9%).
Does the 2004 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,221 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.