2010 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 BMW 6 Series passed 82.9% of its 3,340 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.0 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 19.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and suspension (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, tread depth and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 129 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.7% versus 11.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.3% in 2021 to 15.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 207 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 203 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 139 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 129 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 88 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 87 |
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 | 129 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 96 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 93 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 58 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 52 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
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 | 23.3% | 778 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 531 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 516 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 280 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.4% | 215 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 123 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 227 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 795 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,164 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 727 | 18.6% |
| 150k+ | 407 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,849 | 17.7% |
| Petrol | 491 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 715 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 704 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 680 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 640 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 601 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 6 Series
On a 2010 6 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.2% 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.
- Suspension (6.1% 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 (4.2% 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 2010 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 3,340 2010 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2010 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 30-60k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,340 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.