2015 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
11,395 MOT tests on the 2015 BMW 6 Series are in this dataset, and 87.0% of them passed. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests against 2.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 227 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 6 Series fails 9.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.1% fail against 13.2% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 11,395 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.2% | 938 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 278 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 267 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 184 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 126 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 104 |
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 | 227 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 213 |
| 3 | Wipers | 191 |
| 4 | Washers | 135 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 109 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
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 | 18.4% | 2,100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 1,158 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 513 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 380 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 317 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 151 |
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 | 722 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,164 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,261 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,675 | 12.7% |
| 120-150k | 460 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 10.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,198 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 1,197 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,403 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 2,326 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 2,279 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 2,211 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 2,176 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 6 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
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 2015 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 11,395 2015 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2015 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,395 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.