Luxury car · 1996–2021 cars
BMW 8 Series reliability
The BMW 8 Series fails 10.9% of first MOT tests, 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 14,733 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a BMW 8 Series before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 10.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 28% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 14,733
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the BMW 8 Series ages
Each point is the share of BMW 8 Seriess of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | BMW 8 Series | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 10.6% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 8.5% | 16.4% |
| 24 | 17.7% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 17.8% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst BMW 8 Series years
2021 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 8 Series | 1,635 | 7.9% | 33% fewer fails | 26,949 |
| 2020 8 Series | 5,330 | 10.2% | 18% fewer fails | 27,783 |
| 2019 8 Series | 5,315 | 10.8% | 19% fewer fails | 30,272 |
| 2018 8 Series | 1,017 | 10.9% | 25% fewer fails | 35,432 |
| 1999 | 530 | 16.4% | 56% fewer fails | 98,185 |
| 1998 | 542 | 15.5% | 58% fewer fails | 98,902 |
| 1997 | 298 | 24.5% | 34% fewer fails | 112,457 |
Common problems
What fails most on a BMW 8 Series
Its weak spot is tyres: 49% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres6.7%49% above avg
- Lights and electrics1.9%55% below avg
- Brakes0.8%75% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.8%78% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.7%45% below avg
- Suspension0.7%70% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.6%119% above avg
- Wheels0.5%195% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.4%66% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed 2.06% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.21% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre bulge from structural failure 1.18% of tests
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
- 4
Tyre tear from structural failure 0.35% of tests
A tear in the tyre's structure means it can fail suddenly, so it must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 5
Headlamp aim set too low 0.35% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 6
Number plate does not meet standards 0.33% of tests
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
- 7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.31% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 8
Headlamp aim set too high 0.3% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a BMW 8 Series's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit4.38%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking1.53%
- Tyre has a shallow cut1.29%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear1.11%
- Brake pads wearing thin1.04%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy1.03%
Before you buy
What to check on a used BMW 8 Series
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre bulge from structural failure
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
- 4
Tyre tear from structural failure
A tear in the tyre's structure means it can fail suddenly, so it must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical BMW 8 Series covers about 8,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol69.4%
- Diesel29.1%
- Hybrid1.5%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Black, Blue, Grey, White, Orange
Average engine size: 3.4 litres.
Compare
How the BMW 8 Series compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche Panamera | 10% | 58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus LS | 18.9% | 53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CL-Class | 20.8% | 47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XJR | 23.6% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Maserati Ghibli | 14.6% | 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW 8 Series | 10.9% | 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jeep 300 | 34.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every luxury car ranked in the luxury car reliability index, or all BMW models.
Questions
BMW 8 Series questions, answered
Is the BMW 8 Series reliable?
On MOT results, the BMW 8 Series is better than average: it fails 10.9% of first MOT tests, 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 13 of 14 luxury car models in our index.
What fails most on a BMW 8 Series MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the BMW 8 Series are tyre ply or cords exposed (2.06% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.21% of tests), tyre bulge from structural failure (1.18% of tests). By area, tyres fails 6.7% of its tests.
Which BMW 8 Series year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a BMW 8 Series do a year?
A typical BMW 8 Series covers about 8,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a BMW 8 Series before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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