Buying Report · £14.99
Tools

Common problems by part

BMW 6 Series lights and electrics problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 7,945 MOT tests · Updated

At 9 years, 2.2 in 100 MOT tests of the BMW 6 Series failed on lights and electrics, against 9.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,945 MOT tests) [1].

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 177 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 18 ages from 3 to 20 years, 89,667 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Headlamp cleaning device: for LED or HID headlamp inoperative, 0.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 9.2 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). The BMW 6 Series fails less often here.

Why it matters

A lights and electrics fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Walk round with the lights, indicators, brake lights and hazards on (ask someone to press the pedal) and check every dashboard warning light goes out after starting.

BMW 6 Series lights and electrics fails by age

BMW 6 Series lights and electrics fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the BMW 6 Series. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.010203 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 1,378 MOT tests34 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 3.1), 3,760 MOT tests5 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 5,078 MOT tests56 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 4.7), 6,663 MOT tests7 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 5.8), 7,590 MOT tests78 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 7.3), 7,289 MOT tests9 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 7,945 MOT tests910 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 11.2), 7,674 MOT tests11 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 13.3), 6,232 MOT tests1112 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 15.4), 4,654 MOT tests13 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 17.0), 3,306 MOT tests1314 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 18.3), 2,995 MOT tests15 years: 6.8 per 100 (all cars 19.5), 3,678 MOT tests1516 years: 8.7 per 100 (all cars 20.4), 4,607 MOT tests17 years: 9.2 per 100 (all cars 21.0), 5,347 MOT tests1718 years: 11.3 per 100 (all cars 21.4), 5,311 MOT tests19 years: 11.3 per 100 (all cars 21.5), 3,878 MOT tests1920 years: 10.3 per 100 (all cars 21.2), 2,282 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. BMW 6 Series All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
31,3781.22.9
43,7601.43.1
55,0781.33.7
66,6631.34.7
77,5901.75.8
87,2891.87.3
97,9452.29.2
107,6742.611.2
116,2323.313.3
124,6543.015.4
133,3064.017.0
142,9955.318.3
153,6786.819.5
164,6078.720.4
175,3479.221.0
185,31111.321.4
19*3,87811.321.5
20*2,28210.321.2

All first-use years of the BMW 6 Series pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the lights and electrics at 9 years

Fails

  • Headlamp cleaning device: for LED or HID headlamp inoperative: 0.6 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.0. Headlamp cleaning device for LED or HID headlamp inoperative MOT fail
  • Headlamp aim: too low: 0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.1. Adjust headlamp aim: estimated £16–£39 (0.2–0.5 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts) Headlamp aim too low MOT fail
  • Headlight aimed too high: 0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.8. Adjust headlamp aim: estimated £16–£39 (0.2–0.5 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts) Headlamp aim too high MOT fail
  • Dipped headlight not working: 0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.5. Replace headlamp bulb (dipped or main): estimated £19–£86 (0.2–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £3–£8) Headlamp not working on dipped beam MOT fail

Adjust headlamp aim cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a BMW 6 Series? Check that exact car before the viewing.

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 3.0 diesel: 2.3 per 100 at 9 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years; 7,329 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Walk round with the lights, indicators, brake lights and hazards on (ask someone to press the pedal) and check every dashboard warning light goes out after starting.

Check one BMW 6 Series, not the average

The figures here describe BMW 6 Series cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other BMW 6 Series problems

Lights and electrics on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the BMW 6 Series have more lights and electrics problems than other cars?

0.2 to 0.3 times the lights and electrics fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 9 years (all test years), from 7,945 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 12 of the 18 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are BMW 6 Series lights and electrics problems?

2.2 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on lights and electrics, against 9.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,945 MOT tests).

What is the most common BMW 6 Series lights and electrics fail?

0.6 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years: Headlamp cleaning device: for LED or HID headlamp inoperative (50 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 89,667 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare