The picture
6 Series: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 5,980 MOT tests, the 6 Series returns 85.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and a broken or weak spring round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 64,793, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
133 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 02
A tyre seriously damaged
131 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 03
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
107 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
A tyre cords visible or damaged
105 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 05
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
97 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 06
A tyre seriously damaged
66 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
39 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 08
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
38 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 09
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
36 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 10
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
34 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£200–£430
If every one of this 6 Series's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a 6 Series?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 6 Series and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.