2014 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,826 MOT tests, the 2014 BMW 6 Series recorded an 85.3% pass rate. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 13.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.2% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 480 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 6 Series fails 10.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (14.9% vs 11.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.2% | 972 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.0% | 475 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 318 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 247 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 138 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 122 |
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 | 480 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 241 |
| 3 | Wipers | 200 |
| 4 | Washers | 150 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 130 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 120 |
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 | 19.2% | 2,275 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 1,204 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 488 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 471 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 390 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 184 |
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 | 530 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,367 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,582 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,443 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 705 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 199 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,232 | 14.9% |
| Petrol | 594 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,492 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 2,455 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 2,362 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 2,297 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 2,220 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 6 Series
On a 2014 6 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.2% 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 (4.0% 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 (2.7% 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 2014 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 11,826 2014 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by suspension (4.0%).
Does the 2014 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,826 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.