2016 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 BMW 6 Series passed 87.9% of its 10,514 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 10.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 158 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 11.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.7% of the time against 12.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.1% | 854 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.9% | 202 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 170 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 170 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 93 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 158 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 135 |
| 3 | Wipers | 130 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 107 |
| 5 | Washers | 100 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 88 |
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 | 18.1% | 1,904 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 884 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.3% | 449 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 305 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 291 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 98 |
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 | 1,200 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,731 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,290 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,024 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 196 | 11.2% |
| 150k+ | 72 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,553 | 12.1% |
| Petrol | 961 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,191 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 2,129 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 2,125 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 2,054 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 2,015 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 6 Series
On a 2016 6 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.1% 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 (1.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% 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 2016 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 10,514 2016 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by visibility (1.9%).
Does the 2016 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,514 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.