BMW 650i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 650i recorded a 82.1% MOT pass rate across 7,350 tests in this dataset (model years 2004–2021), with suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres its most common failure areas. Its 17.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 687 | 80.3% | 19.7% |
| 2006 | 2,569 | 80.0% | 20.1% |
| 2007 | 1,513 | 81.8% | 18.2% |
| 2008 | 608 | 84.4% | 15.6% |
| 2009 | 151 | 82.1% | 17.9% |
| 2010 | 67 | 86.6% | 13.4% |
| 2011 | 468 | 80.6% | 19.4% |
| 2012 | 97 | 82.5% | 17.5% |
| 2013 | 149 | 87.9% | 12.1% |
| 2014 | 177 | 90.4% | 9.6% |
| 2015 | 231 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2016 | 315 | 85.4% | 14.6% |
| 2017 | 250 | 87.2% | 12.8% |
| 2018 | 59 | 84.8% | 15.3% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.2% | 454 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 440 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 417 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 329 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 181 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 169 |
| 7 | Steering | 1.4% | 103 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 80 |
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 | 196 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 164 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 151 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 148 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 142 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 141 |
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 | 21.8% | 1,603 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 1,395 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 1,258 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.0% | 1,249 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 525 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 330 |
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 | 523 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,453 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,061 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,018 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 946 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,598 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 1,535 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 1,476 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 1,394 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 1,347 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a BMW 650i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 650i at MOT time?
82.1% of the 7,350 BMW 650i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate, worse than the 15.5% average across all 6 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 650i?
Suspension, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.0%).
Does the 650i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,350 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.