BMW I8 MOT failures and reliability

In 2023 the BMW I8 took 2,292 MOT tests in Britain and passed 90% of them first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2023: 2,292
First-time pass rate: 90%
All cars: 71%

What the I8 fails on

Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.

Tyres4.7% (all cars 6.4%)
Lights and electrics1.4% (all cars 11.3%)
Visibility1.3% (all cars 4.8%)
Number plates and VIN1.2% (all cars 0.4%)
Body and structure0.9% (all cars 3.5%)
Brakes0.8% (all cars 6.8%)
Exhaust and emissions0.5% (all cars 3.1%)
Wheels0.3% (all cars 0.4%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3.6%
Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements 1.0%
Headlamp aim: too high 0.9%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 0.8%
Tyres, condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 0.6%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt 0.6%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction 0.5%
Side repeaters: not working 0.3%

Most common advisories

Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 17.2%
Brake pads: wearing thin 3.6%
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 2.4%
Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 2.0%
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre 1.2%
Tyres, condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords 0.9%
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 0.6%
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 0.5%

Pass rate by year of registration

Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.

First registered	Tests	Pass rate
2015	665	89%
2016	469	90%
2018	378	90%

Typical mileage by age

Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.

Age at test	Average mileage
4 years	17,005 miles
5 years	24,933 miles
6 years	35,507 miles
7 years	38,532 miles
8 years	42,261 miles
9 years	45,436 miles

Check a particular I8

Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.

Other BMW models

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.