2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 BMW X6 MOT pass rate and common faults

416 MOT tests in 2024. 70.9% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

125Well above average
Passed first time70.9%
Failed or needed repairs29.1%
Typical mileage at test125,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 416 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.6%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.1%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.4%
    22 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    27 marked dangerous
  5. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid2.4%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.9%
  8. Rear fog lamp: not working1.7%
  9. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.7%
  10. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension14.7%
  2. Lights & electrics11.1%
  3. Tyres10.8%
  4. Brakes9.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.0%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.9%
  7. Wheels1.2%
  8. Body & chassis1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine19.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.0%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.9%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All X6 years2009 X6 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 BMW X6?

In 2024, 70.9% of 2008 BMW X6 cars passed their MOT first time, across 416 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 BMW X6?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2008 BMW X6 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 125, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).