2007 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 BMW 6 Series passed 81.4% of its 7,602 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2007 6 Series comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 268 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.6% versus 6.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 18.5% of the time against 19.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 575 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 567 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 419 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 297 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 212 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 192 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 268 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 241 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 227 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 205 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 195 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 186 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.6% | 1,947 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 1,742 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 1,329 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 1,164 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 550 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 397 |
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 | 90 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 574 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,649 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,486 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,706 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,093 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,418 | 18.5% |
| Diesel | 1,184 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,629 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 1,608 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 1,558 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 1,464 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 1,343 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 6 Series
On a 2007 6 Series, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2007 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 7,602 2007 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 BMW 6 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.5%).
Does the 2007 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,602 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.