2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

573 MOT tests in 2024. 75.9% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

130Well above average
Passed first time75.9%
Failed or needed repairs24.1%
Typical mileage at test111,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 573 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    16 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    17 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.9%
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.6%
  7. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.6%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.2%
    10 marked dangerous
  10. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension8.6%
  2. Lights & electrics8.2%
  3. Tyres6.8%
  4. Brakes6.1%
  5. Steering3.8%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.4%
  8. Wheels0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.3%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.2%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.3%

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: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. 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 2009 BMW 6 Series?

In 2024, 75.9% of 2009 BMW 6 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 573 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 BMW 6 Series?

The most common failure reasons were track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 BMW 6 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 130, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).