BMW
6,589 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where I8s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 14.0 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
91.5%
Pass-after-fix
2.3%
Fail
6.1%
Avg miles
40,673
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 6,589 tests
Pass rate climbs 1.7 points across the cohorts — newer I8 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
91.0%
Fail
6.3%
PRS
2.5%
Avg mileage at test
46,409 mi
Pass
92.7%
Fail
5.4%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
23,101 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,472 MOT tests, the I8 returns 90.4% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A split CV-joint boot and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 34,806, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–44
out of 50
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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
144 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
128 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
72 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
54 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
40 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
29 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Wiper blade defective
28 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
27 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
20 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
16 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£95–£175
If every one of this I8's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.7-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy BMW I8 makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
92.7%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 92.7% — a 1.7-point improvement. Tests in this band average 23,101 miles — roughly 23K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
91.0%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 91.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.7% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view. Average mileage on test for this band is 46,409 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (92.7% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (91.0% pass). That's a 1.7-point spread across 4,970 older tests and 1,619 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Recall history
The I8 has 6 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an I8 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
