2012 BMW 6 Series MOT pass rate: 82.7% (1,549 tests)
Is the 2012 6 Series getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.2% +10.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 82.8% +11.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 82.1% +11.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 6 Series
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 192 | 38.1% |
| 2 | Suspension | 103 | 20.4% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 72 | 14.3% |
| 4 | Road Wheels | 33 | 6.5% |
| 5 | Brakes | 31 | 6.2% |
| 6 | Visibility | 28 | 5.6% |
All 6 Series years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 (this page) | 1,549 | 82.7% | +11.4 pts | 93,824 |
| 2013 | 2,100 | 80.6% | +7.3 pts | 89,640 |
| 2018 | 4,880 | 89.9% | +3.5 pts | 51,350 |
| 2019 | 3,142 | 90.5% | +2.0 pts | 45,546 |
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FAQs
Is a 2012 BMW 6 Series reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 82.7% of their MOT tests (1,549 tests, 2023–2025), +11.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 93,824 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 6 Series?
The median tested example shows 93,824 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.