2011 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,814 MOT tests, the 2011 BMW 6 Series recorded an 83.7% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 17.7% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.5%) 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 coil spring, ball joint and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 193 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.2% versus 9.7%.
The diesel cars hold up better: 15.2% fail against 16.7% for petrol, a 1.5-point gap across 3,814 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 286 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 231 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 94 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 94 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 62 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.1% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 193 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 67 |
| 3 | Wipers | 57 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 48 |
| 5 | Washers | 46 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 45 |
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 | 17.8% | 678 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.5% | 401 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 382 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 224 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.6% | 139 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 109 |
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 | 155 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,004 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,360 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 885 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 331 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 79 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,656 | 16.7% |
| Diesel | 1,158 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 823 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 789 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 760 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 738 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 704 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 6 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.5% 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.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2011 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 3,814 2011 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2011 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,814 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.