BMW M6 MOT pass rate & common failures
7,387 MOT tests on the BMW M6 (1988–2021) give it a 90.2% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the M6 comes out 4.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, registration plates and tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 119 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.5% versus 5.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every M6 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 667 | 87.7% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 603 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 312 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Visibility |
| 2008 | 155 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
| 2009 | 106 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Tyres |
| 2010 | 33 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 253 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2013 | 683 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 1,124 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 1,181 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 1,100 | 90.5% | 9.6% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 808 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 327 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 329 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 169 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 123 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 118 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 116 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.3% | 95 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.9% | 64 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 119 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 102 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 89 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 5 | Washers | 67 |
| 6 | Wipers | 66 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 61 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 40 |
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 | 16.6% | 1,227 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 878 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 289 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.4% | 252 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 196 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 144 |
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 | 1,395 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,361 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,910 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 572 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 14.5% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,598 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 1,540 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 1,496 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 1,387 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 1,366 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a BMW M6
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW M6?
90.2% of the 7,387 BMW M6 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.8% fail rate, across model years 1988–2021.
What does the BMW M6 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.3%).
How much does mileage affect M6 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 12.5% for 150k+, a 6.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,387 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.