2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

1,217 MOT tests in 2024. 69.6% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

123Well above average
Passed first time69.6%
Failed or needed repairs30.4%
Typical mileage at test110,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,217 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.5%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.2%
  3. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.0%
  4. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.2%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.1%
  8. Rear fog lamp: not working2.1%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    36 marked dangerous
  10. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics16.2%
  2. Suspension14.0%
  3. Brakes8.9%
  4. Tyres6.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.6%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.9%
  8. Steering2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine21.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.4%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 BMW 6 Series?

In 2024, 69.6% of 2005 BMW 6 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,217 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 BMW 6 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working; srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 BMW 6 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 123, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).