2013 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 BMW 6 Series passed 84.4% of its 11,882 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (14.6% fail rate), the 2013 6 Series comes out 1.0pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.4%) and suspension (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 653 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.6% versus 9.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.9% fail against 15.8% for diesel, a 4.9-point gap across 11,882 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 876 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.3% | 634 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 303 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 302 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 175 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 140 |
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 | 653 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 237 |
| 3 | Wipers | 199 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 155 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 148 |
| 6 | Washers | 142 |
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 | 20.0% | 2,371 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 1,359 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 592 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 579 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 327 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 257 |
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 | 303 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,297 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,488 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,317 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,145 | 16.9% |
| 150k+ | 331 | 19.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,250 | 15.8% |
| Petrol | 632 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,544 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 2,441 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 2,412 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 2,301 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 2,184 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 6 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 (5.3% 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 2013 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 11,882 2013 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.3%).
Does the 2013 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,882 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.