2017 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,668 MOT tests, the 2017 BMW 6 Series recorded an 87.7% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), the 2017 6 Series comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and road wheels.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 0-30k band and 18.3% in the 120-150k band, a 7.7-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.6% of the time against 12.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 662 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.5% | 117 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 95 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 95 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.7% | 53 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 49 |
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 | 110 |
| 2 | Wipers | 72 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 59 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 5 | Washers | 53 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 39 |
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 | 16.3% | 1,250 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 576 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.2% | 320 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 225 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 162 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 155 |
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 | 1,658 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,772 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,688 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 424 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 18.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,338 | 12.5% |
| Petrol | 1,330 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,590 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 1,534 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 1,542 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 1,537 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 1,465 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 6 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 8.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (8.6% 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 (1.5% 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.
- Road wheels (1.2% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
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 2017 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 7,668 2017 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.5%).
Does the 2017 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,668 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.