Used car guide

2017 BMW 6 Series diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel BMW 6 Series first registered in 2017 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 627 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

627MOTs of 2017 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
84%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
9,000typical miles a year
7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints7× usual
    BMW 6 Series
    7.7% All 2017 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.6% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Flexible couplings49× usual
    BMW 6 Series
    4.9% All 2017 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Brake discs: 3.8% here, against 10.9% of all 2017 cars.

Common 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    11% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    8% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Suspension
    4% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 7× as often on the 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the flexible couplings? (Flagged at MOT 49× as often on the 2017 BMW 6 Series diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 6 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 6 Series compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2020730Tyres 23%
20193,162Tyres 23%
20184,905Tyres 22%
2016–Too few tests
2015–Too few tests
2014–Too few tests
20132,110Tyres 26%
20121,554Tyres 24%
2011229Tyres 20%
2010–Too few tests
2009149Tyres 30%
2008248Suspension 34%
2007254Suspension 33%
2006427Brakes 33%
2005212Brakes 33%
2004–Too few tests
2003–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 6 Series cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score