2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

1,003 MOT tests in 2024. 72.5% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

128Well above average
Passed first time72.5%
Failed or needed repairs27.5%
Typical mileage at test105,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,003 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.0%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  5. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.5%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    31 marked dangerous
  8. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.9%
  10. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension14.2%
  2. Lights & electrics11.4%
  3. Brakes8.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.2%
  5. Tyres5.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.9%
  7. Seat belts & airbags3.4%
  8. Steering2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine28.3%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.0%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.5%

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.

All 6 Series years2005 6 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 BMW 6 Series?

In 2024, 72.5% of 2004 BMW 6 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,003 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 BMW 6 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 BMW 6 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 128, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).