Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2006 BMW 6 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Air bags1
- Equipment1
- Suspension1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 2006 BMW 6 Series cars on Dutch roads are the 4.8 petrol (270 kW, 362 hp) and 3.0 petrol (190 kW, 255 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4.8 petrol | 270 kW 362 hp | 107 |
| 3.0 petrol | 190 kW 255 hp | 106 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
229 first registered in 2006 are on Dutch roads; 63% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €124,150.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde135
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen104
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld51
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect36
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)32
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm31
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan26
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm24
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,073 cars built in 2006 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 523 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,539 of these cars first registered in 2006 took their annual MOT test. 72% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2006 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.4% | 21.5% |
| Suspension | 1.0% | 17.3% |
| Brakes | 0.9% | 13.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.6% | 6.6% |
| Tyres | 0.5% | 7.4% |
| Steering | 0.5% | 3.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
51 of these cars first registered in 2006 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 199,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
104 2006 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 13% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2006 BMW 6 Series.
| 2013238 5 Jul 2013 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue over time. As a result, the passenger airbag could deactivate, illuminating th… |
| 2012109 23 Mar 2012 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the insulated bulkhead connector (used to join the two halves of the positive battery cable) may have been incorrectly installed during veh… |
| 2010328 1 Oct 2010 | Brakes On certain vehicles, a check valve in the brake vacuum pump may leak a small amount of lubricating oil. Over time, this could result in contamination of the br… |
| 2008307 26 Aug 2008 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue during field usage depending on the seat configuration, vehicle geometry, manne… |
| 2007334 16 Oct 2007 | Electrical Certain 550I, 650I cabriolet, 650I coupe, and X5 vehicles equipped with a V8 engine, operated in conditions of below-freezing temperatures combined with low hum… |
| 2006134 7 Jun 2006 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the rear shock lower bushings may not have been manufactured to specification (improper vulcanization of the bushing). Depending on vehicle… |
| 2005327 26 Oct 2005 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the guide plate of the automatic transmission's parking lock pawl subsystem may fail. This could cause the parking lock pawl not to engage… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOWER RUBBER MOUNT OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY NOT ADHERE CORRECTLY TO ITS HOUSING WITHIN THE SHOCK ABSORBER.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NUTS WHICH SECURE THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT TO THE FRONT WHEEL HUB MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OVER TIME THE NUTS COULD LOOSEN AND THE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT COULD BE DAMAGED.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2006 BMW 6 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 10249027 | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. |
| 10182619 | Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root caus |
| 10052012 | BMW: BATTERY HAS AN INCREASED DEMAND DUE TO DEVELOPEMENTAL PROCESS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS CAUSING THE BATTER TO NEED TO UNDERGO AN ENERGY DIAGNOSIS. *KB |
| 10045282 | BMW: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, AT TIMES WOULD BE ROUGH RUNNING; WHITE OR BLUE SMOKE SEEN EXITING EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE OIL IS CONSUMED ABOVE SPECIFICATIONS. *PE UPDATED 1/11/13. *PE |
| 10040853 | BMW: A GRINDING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DURING SLOW CORNERING. WHEN TURNING A SLIP/STICK EFFECT IS CREATED ON THE LINING AND STEEL DISCS INCORPORATED IN THE DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH CAUSES A GRINDING NOISE. *RM |
| 10040045 | BMW: A NEW TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROCESS HAS BEEN CREATED REGARDING TRANSMISSION CONCERNS. *RM |
| 10037025 | BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM |
| 10033130 | BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032988 | BMW: TIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. MODEL E90, E91(3 SERIES);E92, E92 (3 SERIES); E60 (5 SERIES); E60 (M5); E63, E64 (6 SERIES); E63, E64 (M6); E65, E66 (7 SERIES); E70 (X5); E83 (X3); AND E85, E86 (Z4). *PE |
| 10032849 | BMW VEHICLE: DSC DISABLING FUNCTION. DUE TO REVISED DME, DSC AND CCC SOFTWARE, THE MDM (M DYNAMIC MODE) BUTTON LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE SWITCH CLUSTER (SZM) NOW HAS TRIPLE FUNCTIONALITY-DEFAULT STATE-DSC ON; SHORT PRESS-MDM ON (GREEN MDM INDICATOR DISPLAYED IN THE CLUSTER); PRESS AND HOLD-DSC OFF (YELLOW DSC INDICATOR DISPLAYED IN THE CLUSTER; MESSAGE APPEARS IN THE CONTROL DISPLAY). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032827 | BMW VEHICLES: DSC DISABLING FUNCTION. DSC OFF FUNCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN M5 AND M6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032825 | BMW VEHICLE: SPORT TRANSMISSION PADDLE SHIFTERS INOPERATIVE-DIAGNOSIS. THE DIRECT COMMUNICATION INPUT LINE BETWEEN THE PADDLE SHIFTERS AND THE EGS TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS INTERRUPTED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032781 | BMW VEHICLE: DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINTS DUE TO COOLING FAN RELAY FAILURE. THE CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF INTERMITTENT DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS, DESCRIBED AS-ENGINE IS LACKING POWER WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL; TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION; DISTINCT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 30-45MPH. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032780 | BMW VEHICLE: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED: S85-VARIOUS VANOS RELATED FAULTS STORED. (E60 (5SERIES), E63 & E64 (6SERIES). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10029684 | BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP OR THE CHECK GAS CAP WARNINGS ARE ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DIAGNOSED, THE DME HAS STORED FAULTS FOR SMALL LEAK, MICRO LEAK, SUPER FINE LEAK, OR LARGE LEAK IN RELATION TO THE TANK VENTILATION OR EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM *PE UPDATED 10/27/09. *PE |
| 10029426 | BMW: ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS MAY EXIST: INTERMITTENT HARSH 4-3, 3-2 OR 2-1 DOWNSHIFT (JOLT) WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION; JOLTS AND/OR JERKS FELT WHEN REACCELERATING AFTER COASTING; AND JUDDER WHEN GENTLY ACCELERATING (MOST NOTICEABLE AT AN ENGINE SPEED BELOW 2,000 RPM). E60(550IA); E63, 64 (650I). *PE UPDATED 6/8/11. *PE UPDATED 9/30/11. *PE |
| 10029257 | BMW: ALL INSTRUMENT DIALS ARE INOPERATIVE AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS VERY BRIGHT. *PE |
| 10028770 | BMW: THE CONVERTIBLE TOP STOWAGE COMPARTMENT HAS 4 DRAINS TO ALLOW WATER TO EXIT. THESE DRAINS, OVER TIME, MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY LEAVES AND DEBRIS AND CAUSE AN OVERFLOW INTO THE TRUNK AND DAMAGE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. *PE |
| 10028366 | BMW VEHICLE: MODIFYING THE REAR WATER DRAIN HOSES. OVER TIME THE 4 DRAINS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY LEAVES AND DEBRIS. ONCE CLOGGED, WATER MAY COLLECT AND OVERFLOW INTO TRUNK, DAMAGING VARIOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. *PE |
| 10026944 | BMW: VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL 08E-A02: M5 AND M6 (5 & 6 SERIES) WITH S85 OBD COMMUNICATION. SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE DME CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE COMMUNICATION INCOMPATIBILITY WITH CERTAIN GENERIC OBD SCANNER TOOLS. *PE |
| 10025983 | BMW: HEADLAMP MOISTURE: FAULT DIAGNOSTICS. WATER OR CONDENSATION IN ONE OR BOTH HEADLAMPS. MODELS 5 SERIES, 6 SERIES, 7 SERIES, X5, X6, 1 SERIES, AND 3 SERIES. MODEL YEARS 2000-20008. *PE |
| 10025581 | WATER INGRESS AT THE DOORS: SYMPTOM DIAGNOSIS. MODEL VEHICLE E64 (6 SERIES CONVERTIBLE). MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE |
| 10020110 | FUEL PUMP FAILURE AFTER REFUELING WITH ETHANOL FUEL BLEND. *TT |
| 10020005 | TOP TIER DETERGENT GASOLINE IN BMW VEHICLES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation