2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate and common faults

1,479 MOT tests in 2024. 79.5% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

124Well above average
Passed first time79.5%
Failed or needed repairs20.5%
Typical mileage at test94,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,479 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.7%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure2.8%
    59 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.2%
    47 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.8%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.1%
    30 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.1%
  7. Road Wheels - condition: fractured0.9%
    19 marked dangerous
  8. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
  9. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault0.9%
  10. Headlamp cleaning device: for LED or HID headlamp inoperative0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres9.5%
  2. Suspension8.2%
  3. Lights & electrics3.7%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.4%
  5. Wheels1.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.6%
  7. Brakes1.5%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.5%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.9%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.6%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine4.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.5%

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.

← 2011 6 SeriesAll 6 Series years2013 6 Series →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 BMW 6 Series?

In 2024, 79.5% of 2012 BMW 6 Series cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,479 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 BMW 6 Series?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2012 BMW 6 Series reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 124, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).