2012 BMW M6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 BMW M6 passed 88.5% of its 253 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 16.3% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (5.9%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, coil spring and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 M6 fails 8.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 15 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 11 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 6 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.0% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.2% | 3 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 5 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 4 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
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 | 12.3% | 31 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 25 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.8% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 4 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 2 |
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 | 45 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 136 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 70 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 50 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 61 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 48 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 47 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 M6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (5.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% 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 2012 BMW M6s pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 253 2012 BMW M6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 BMW M6?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2012 M6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 253 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.