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Common problems by part

BMW 6 Series steering problems

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

At 9 years, 0.3 in 100 MOT tests of the BMW 6 Series failed on steering, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,945 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 26 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 16 ages from 5 to 20 years, 84,529 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 9 years: 7,945 for the BMW 6 Series

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

BMW 6 Series steering fails by age

BMW 6 Series steering 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.0245 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 5,078 MOT tests56 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 6,663 MOT tests7 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 7,590 MOT tests78 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 7,289 MOT tests9 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 7,945 MOT tests910 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 7,674 MOT tests11 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 6,232 MOT tests1112 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 4,654 MOT tests13 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 3,306 MOT tests1314 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 2,995 MOT tests15 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 3,678 MOT tests1516 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 4,607 MOT tests17 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 5,347 MOT tests1718 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 5,311 MOT tests19 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 3,878 MOT tests1920 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 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
55,0780.10.3
66,6630.00.5
77,5900.10.8
87,2890.41.2
97,9450.31.8
107,6740.42.1
116,2320.42.5
124,6540.92.8
133,3061.42.9
142,9952.23.2
153,6783.03.3
164,6073.33.4
175,3472.63.6
185,3113.03.9
19*3,8782.94.1
20*2,2822.74.2

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 steering at 9 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • 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: 0.4 per 100 at 9 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,329 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

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

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the BMW 6 Series have more steering problems than other cars?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 7,945 MOT tests).

How common are BMW 6 Series steering problems?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on steering, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,945 MOT tests).

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.

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