BMW X6 common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used BMW X6, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 15,953 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.
Pick the year
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008
What usually goes wrong with a BMW X6?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the BMW X6 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Common BMW X6 MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.
Engine oil leaks
up to 2.2× usualStands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Rough price £80–£600 our estimateAt the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.
Side repeaters
up to 4.4× usualStands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2013.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
BMW X6 MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 BMW X6 did best (77% passed first time, 18 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2022 did worst (86%, 3 points below all 2022 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 86% | 89% -3 | 994 |
| 2021 | 88% | 87% +1 | 980 |
| 2020 | 89% | 86% +3 | 1,053 |
| 2019 | 88% | 84% +4 | 643 |
| 2018 | 84% | 81% +3 | 2,075 |
| 2017 | 87% | 78% +9 | 1,342 |
| 2016 | 88% | 75% +13 | 1,758 |
| 2015 | 85% | 72% +13 | 1,244 |
| 2014 | 82% | 69% +13 | 1,279 |
| 2013 | 79% | 66% +13 | 1,114 |
| 2012 | 75% | 63% +12 | 1,001 |
| 2011 | 78% | 61% +17 | 658 |
| 2010 | 77% | 59% +18 | 680 |
| 2009 | 73% | 58% +15 | 772 |
| 2008 | 75% | 57% +18 | 360 (small sample) |
Questions to ask the seller before buying a BMW X6
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the BMW X6 as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the BMW X6 as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a BMW X6?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score