MOT fail rates by first-use year
2005 BMW 6 Series MOT fail rate and common faults
How BMW 6 Series cars first used in 2005 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 5,394 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 20 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 20 years old, BMW 6 Series cars first used in 2005 failed 30.2% of MOTs (1,199 tests), 12.6 points below the 42.8% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 17 to 20 years old, the fail rate moved from 28.4% to 30.2%.
- BMW 6 Series cars first used a year earlier, in 2004, failed 27.5% at the same age of 20 years (1,083 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the BMW 6 Series at 20 years, is coil spring broken, at 3.6 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.6).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17 years | 28.4% | 1,530 | 43.1% | −14.7 pts |
| 2023 | 18 years | 30.3% | 1,404 | 43.3% | −13.0 pts |
| 2024 | 19 years | 30.1% | 1,261 | 43.2% | −13.1 pts |
| 2025 | 20 years | 30.2% | 1,199 | 42.8% | −12.6 pts |
Most common faults at 20 years
These figures cover all BMW 6 Series MOTs (first used 2004 or later) at 20 years: cars first used 2004 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,282). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring broken | 3.6 | 2.6 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.6 | 5.2 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 2.8 | 1.4 |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 2.6 | 1.4 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Handbrake too weak | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 1.9 | 2.2 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,282). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 24.7 | 14.1 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 16.0 | 15.2 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 15.2 | 15.7 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 14.2 | 7.7 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.6 | 10.7 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 5.0 | 5.7 |
| Suspension ball joint: slight play | 4.9 | 2.7 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear | 2.8 | 2.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=2,282). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 20 years
These figures cover all BMW 6 Series MOTs (first used 2004 or later) at 20 years: cars first used 2004 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=2,282). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100.0% | 29.0% | 2,275 | 42.5% | 107,285 miles |
Car tax rules for a 2005 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2005 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2005 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the BMW 6 Series
Other BMW models first used in 2005
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 33.5% | 10,058 | 42.8% |
| BMW 1 Series (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 37.9% | 4,520 | 42.8% |
| BMW X5 (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 36.8% | 4,083 | 42.8% |
| BMW 5 Series (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 31.2% | 3,772 | 42.8% |
| BMW X3 (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 37.0% | 2,030 | 42.8% |
| BMW Z4 (2005) | 20 years in 2025 | 34.9% | 1,976 | 42.8% |
More on the BMW 6 Series
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2005 BMW 6 Series cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.