BMW 640i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 640i recorded a 87.5% MOT pass rate across 5,328 tests in this dataset (model years 2005–2021), with tyres, suspension and visibility its most common failure areas. Its 12.5% fail rate is lower than the 15.5% average across all BMW 6 Series versions.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,556 | 84.7% | 15.3% |
| 2012 | 429 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2013 | 280 | 90.4% | 9.6% |
| 2014 | 403 | 87.8% | 12.2% |
| 2015 | 945 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2016 | 637 | 90.0% | 10.1% |
| 2017 | 803 | 88.7% | 11.3% |
| 2018 | 236 | 86.0% | 14.0% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 377 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.9% | 154 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 118 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 102 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 64 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 42 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 28 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 27 |
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 | 133 |
| 2 | Wipers | 79 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 61 |
| 4 | Washers | 57 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 46 |
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 | 16.9% | 900 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.2% | 383 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 301 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 210 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 206 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 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 | 932 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,240 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,446 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 535 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 142 | 12.7% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 6.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,113 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 1,069 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 1,037 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 1,046 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 1,063 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 640i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Suspension (2.9% 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.
- Visibility (2.2% 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.
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 640i at MOT time?
87.5% of the 5,328 BMW 640i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate, better than the 15.5% average across all 6 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 640i?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by suspension (2.9%).
Does the 640i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 6.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,328 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.