2005 Bmw 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,305 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Bmw 6 Series, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 78.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.0% in the 150k+ group versus 9.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.8% | 816 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 768 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 580 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 404 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 315 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 305 |
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 | 344 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 336 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 300 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 278 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 277 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 249 |
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 | 30.0% | 2,491 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.7% | 2,215 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 2,016 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.8% | 1,813 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 681 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 508 |
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 | 74 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 629 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,839 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,776 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,949 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,030 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,274 | 21.1% |
| Diesel | 31 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,909 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 1,806 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 1,679 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 1,493 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 1,418 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 6 Series
Before buying a 2005 Bmw 6 Series, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 9.8% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 2005 Bmw 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 8,305 2005 Bmw 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Bmw 6 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2005 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,305 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.