2009 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,656 MOT tests, the 2009 BMW 6 Series recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and linkage ball joint dust cover — ball joint alone was recorded 140 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.6% in the 0-30k band and 20.0% in the 150k+ band, a 6.4-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (18.5% vs 14.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 274 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 193 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 157 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 97 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 94 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 140 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 95 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 85 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 84 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 71 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 66 |
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 | 23.8% | 871 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.7% | 684 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.0% | 622 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 355 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 252 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 149 |
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 | 44 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 251 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 847 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,125 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 758 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 630 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,719 | 18.5% |
| Petrol | 937 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 789 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 782 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 735 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 703 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 647 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 6 Series
On a 2009 6 Series, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% 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 2009 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 3,656 2009 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 BMW 6 Series?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2009 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,656 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.