BMW 630i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 630i recorded a 80.4% MOT pass rate across 17,450 tests in this dataset (model years 2004–2021), with lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres its most common failure areas. Its 19.6% fail rate is higher than the 15.5% average across all BMW 6 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2005 | 3,901 | 77.8% | 22.2% |
| 2006 | 5,609 | 79.7% | 20.3% |
| 2007 | 4,381 | 81.2% | 18.8% |
| 2008 | 2,373 | 82.9% | 17.1% |
| 2009 | 646 | 85.5% | 14.5% |
| 2010 | 344 | 86.9% | 13.1% |
| 2011 | 80 | 73.8% | 26.3% |
| 2018 | 30 | 90.0% | 10.0% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 1,501 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,382 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 916 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 906 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 598 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 497 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.6% | 450 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 295 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 700 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 574 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 493 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 440 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 425 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 422 |
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 | 25.4% | 4,428 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 4,259 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.6% | 4,122 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 2,583 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.7% | 1,340 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 1,133 |
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 | 125 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,166 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,911 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 5,941 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 4,150 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,147 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,793 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 3,693 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 3,521 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 3,350 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 3,093 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a BMW 630i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
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 reliable is the BMW 630i at MOT time?
80.4% of the 17,450 BMW 630i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate, worse than the 15.5% average across all 6 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 630i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 630i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,450 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-06. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.