BMW I8: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW I8 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 13.6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,188 individual BMW I8 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 90.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 10 in every 100 BMW I8s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW I8 tested had covered 38,756 miles and was built around 2016.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a BMW I8 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW I8 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged BMW I8s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW I8

1. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.9% of tests (5.46x the national rate for this defect)
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 0.7% of tests
4. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.7% of tests
5. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.5% of tests
6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.4% of tests
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 0.3% of tests
8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.2% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.2% of tests
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 0.2% of tests

From 6,091 DVSA-tracked BMW I8 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.48% of these flagged BMW I8 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

BMW I8 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each BMW I8 year:

• 2015 BMW I8 - 90.7% first-time pass, 632 tests
• 2016 BMW I8 - 90% first-time pass, 438 tests
• 2017 BMW I8 - 89.9% first-time pass, 228 tests
• 2018 BMW I8 - 90.9% first-time pass, 372 tests
• 2019 BMW I8 - 93.9% first-time pass, 244 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Peugeot 208 Allure Premium Puretech Ss - 90.3%
• Fiat Roller Team - 90.3%
• Nissan Juke Acenta Dig-T - 90.3%
• Volvo Xc90 Momentum B5 Mhev Awd Auto - 90.3%
• Vauxhall Corsa Se Premium Turbo Auto - 90.3%
• Jeep Renegade Night Eagle - 90.3%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate