2018 BMW 6 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,157 MOT tests, the 2018 BMW 6 Series recorded an 89.1% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 9.0% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, road wheels and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.2% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of road wheels, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 203 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 6 Series fails 10.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (11.7% vs 8.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 947 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 179 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 167 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 129 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 120 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 103 |
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 | 203 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 98 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 83 |
| 5 | Washers | 78 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 76 |
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% | 2,147 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 974 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 683 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 353 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 353 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 171 |
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 | 4,010 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,106 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,321 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 514 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 6.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,764 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 3,391 | 8.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,793 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 2,663 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 2,614 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 2,580 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 2,507 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 6 Series
On a 2018 6 Series, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.2% 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.
- Road wheels (1.4% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% 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 2018 BMW 6 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 13,157 2018 BMW 6 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW 6 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by road wheels (1.4%).
Does the 2018 6 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 6.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,157 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.