BMW

BMW 6 Series build years & generations

Coverage 2004-20182 named generationsCoupePETROL / DIESEL

The BMW 6 Series spans several build years and named generations (2004-2018). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest BMW 6 Series generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2004
Generation
E63/E64
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
E63/E64
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2010
Generation
E63/E64
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06 cars built in the same years.
Built 2011-2012
Generation
F12/F13/F06
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
F12/F13/F06
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2018
Generation
F12/F13/F06
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2004	E63/E64	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	E63/E64	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2010	E63/E64	2009-2012	Counted together with E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06 cars built in the same years.
2011-2012	F12/F13/F06	2009-2012	Counted together with E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06 cars built in the same years.
2013-2016	F12/F13/F06	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017-2018	F12/F13/F06	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of BMW 6 Series build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2017-2020

F12/F13/F06 only

These build years are all F12/F13/F06, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

12.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

5,513

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

6412.5%

5 years

61410.3%

6 years

1,61310.7%

7 years

2,42412.8%

8 years

79814.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

F12/F13/F06 only

These build years are all F12/F13/F06, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

18.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

8,880

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

89311.4%

9 years

2,09013.8%

10 years

2,30317.1%

11 years

2,36917.4%

12 years

1,22518.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06

These build years include both E63/E64 and F12/F13/F06 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

19.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

3,773

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

73117.6%

13 years

1,34618.9%

14 years

63218.0%

15 years

69719.4%

16 years

36719.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

E63/E64 only

These build years are all E63/E64, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

24.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

5,839

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

43519.3%

17 years

1,53520.6%

18 years

1,56323.0%

19 years

1,53223.9%

20 years

77424.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

Built

Before 2005

E63/E64 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the E63/E64.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

14.3%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

1,820

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

64224.3%

21 years

58323.8%

25+ years

59514.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.