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MOT History from tests of petrol BMW 6-SERIESs year 2003

Review the list of common BMW 6-SERIES failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your BMW then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history
Pass percent:73.14%
(The average a petrol BMW 6-SERIES year 2003 passes without issue)
Based on:741 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment40
Brake pipe excessively corroded29
Registration plate issues16
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively11
Registration plate lamp issues10
Nearside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|8
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.B.7|8
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|7
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort7
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|6
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|6
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|6
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|5
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))4
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|4
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|3
Offside Headlamp cleaning device inoperative |1.7.2|3
Offside Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|3
Offside Rear Road wheel cracked |4.2.A.1a|3
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|3
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))3
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault |5.4.2|3
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))3
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|3
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|3
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside |1.8|2
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect |1.8.A.1b|2
Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|2
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|2
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|2
Parking brake efficiency below requirements |1.4.2 |a| |i||2
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|2
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|2
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened2
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements |3.7.D.4|2
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|2
Offside Front Position lamp not working |4.2.1 |a||2
Offside Front Wheel bearing so rough it is likely to overheat or break up |5.1.3 |b| |ii||2
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|2
Front brake application uneven2
Brakes imbalanced across an axle2
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))2
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))2
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))2
Electronic power steering warning lamp indicates a system malfunction (2.6 (a))2
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))2
Windscreen has damage2
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|2
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect |1.8.A.1b|2
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|2
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|2
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))2
Nearside Headlamp cleaning device inoperative |1.7.2|2
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|2
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|2
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits |7.3.D.3|2
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint front |2.4.G.2|2
Offside Front coil spring broken |2.4.C.1a|2
Brake hose damaged2
Offside Front Front position lamp|s| not working |1.1.A.3b|2
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))1
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))1
Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1
Offside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Centre Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Rear Outer Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play N/S/F |2.2.B.1f|1
Suspension arm has excessive play in a track control arm inner bush N/S/R Upper Inner |2.5.B.2b|1
Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt BOTH FRONT |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside |1.8|1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))1
Offside Outer Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Road wheel bead rim badly distorted |4.2.A.1a|1
Nearside Rear Road wheel bead rim badly distorted |4.2.A.1a|1
Nearside Front Direction indicator insecure |1.4.A.2b|1
Front Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))1
Nearside Parking brake recording little or no effort |3.7.D.3a|1
Nearside Front Suspension arm insecure and impairing directional stability |5.3.3 |a| |ii||1
Offside Front Suspension arm insecure and impairing directional stability |5.3.3 |a| |ii||1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.1.3 |b| |i||1
Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Offside Front Direction indicator with a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))1
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault |3.4.1c|1
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint Rear arm |2.4.G.2|1
Headlamp cleaning device inoperative |1.7.2|1
Offside Rear Upper Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|1
Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam |4.1.1 |a| |ii||1
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken |5.3.1 |b| |i||1
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken |5.3.1 |b| |i||1
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken |5.3.1 |b| |i||1
Nearside Front Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))1
Offside Front Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))1
Nearside Front Brake pipe at imminent risk of failure or fracture (1.1.11 (a))1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting fractured |2.4.G.1|1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage attachment bracket/mounting likely to fail bolt missing (5.3.3 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn lower arm outer hub rose joint bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect |1.8.A.1b|1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|1
Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))1
Offside Front Direction indicator likely to become detached (4.4.1 (c) (ii))1
Offside Front Headlamp reflector seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))1
Power steering pipe/hose leaking (2.1.5 (a))1
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel |3.1.6b|1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||1
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment |1.1.6 |c||1
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect |4.1.2 |c||1
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect |4.1.2 |c||1
Rear brake application uneven1
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rearward |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` |8.3.1e|1
Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush top front bush |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Front Service brake excessively fluctuating |1.2.1 |e||1
Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating |1.2.1 |e||1
Offside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive it is likely to break up |5.1.3 |a| |ii||1
Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated |5.1.3 |b| |i||1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing |2.4.G.2|1
Front Headlamp cleaning device inoperative |1.7.2|1
Offside Front position lamp|s| has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating |1.1.A.3b|1
Speedometer cannot be illuminated. |6.7.3|1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|1
Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated |3.6.G.2|1
Front Power steering component|s| leaking central |2.3.3b|1
Offside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.1.3 |b| |i||1
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Nearside Rear Road wheel cracked |4.2.A.1a|1
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|1
Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt cover split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))1
Nearside Front Position lamp not working side light (4.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Position lamp not working side light (4.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop-link |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop-link |2.4.G.2|1
Emissions not tested exhaust emits dense blue smoke |7.4.B.1|1
Oil leaking excessively from engine leaking onto exhaust |8.4.1 |a| |i||1
Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration |8.2.1.2 |g||1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint rear |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))1
Rear Suspension pipe leaking Anti-roll bar (5.3.5 (c))1
Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))1
Front brake excessively fluctuating1
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn front (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Rear Fluid suspension leaking roll bar dooflee |2.4.D.2|1
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play |2.6.2|1
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases |7.1.2|1
Horn not working (7.7 (a))1
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))1
Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn rear |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Offside Headlamp insecure |4.1.1 |c||1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn Front (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated |2.6.1|1
Nearside Rear Lower Radius arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted |3.5.1h|1
Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint |2.5.B.1a|1
Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Rear Lower Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing |2.4.G.2|1
Emissions not tested due to the exhaust emitting excessive smoke |7.3.A.1|1
Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle |7.3.A.2b|1
Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration |7.3.A.2c|1
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn lower rear arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Outer Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Rear Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration |7.3.A.2c|1
Offside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release |5.2.5a|1
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in an outer ball joint |2.5.B.2a|1
Offside Steering rack gaiter insecure |2.2.D.2d|1
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault |7.1.6 |a||1
Offside Front Torque/reaction arm has a deteriorated rubber bush resulting in excessive movement |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |2.4.G.4e|1

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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