How reliable is the BMW I8 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the BMW I8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.8% across 2,142 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW I8?

The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 52.1% of failed BMW I8 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a BMW I8?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 29.2% of all BMW I8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a BMW I8 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 42,563 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

BMW I8 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 2,142 recorded MOT tests of the BMW I8, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 2,142 MOT tests, 89.8% of BMW I8 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the BMW I8 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which appears in 52.1% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 42,563 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

89.8%unadjusted, not comparable2,142 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the I8. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 2,142 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed BMW I8 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements52.1%
98 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements19.1%
36 occurrencesRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged13.3%
25 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.0%
17 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc9.0%
17 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.5%
16 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
7.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning4.8%
9 occurrencesDirection indicator not working explained
8.A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud4.3%
8 occurrencesWheel nut, bolt or stud missing, loose or damaged explained
9.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen4.3%
8 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements4.3%
8 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW I8 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements29.2%
625 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A tyre seriously damaged6.1%
131 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured6.1%
130 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm5.5%
118 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements3.9%
83 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
6.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn1.5%
32 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
7.Nail in tyre1.4%
29 tests
8.A tyre seriously damaged1.0%
21 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

What gets tested

The I8 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 42,563
Fuel mix of tested cars: Hybrid100.0%

Check a specific BMW I8

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other BMW models

BMW 3 Series — 80.0% adjusted
BMW 1 Series — 77.6% adjusted
BMW 5 Series — 82.0% adjusted
BMW 2 Series — 82.9% adjusted
BMW X1 — 79.5% adjusted
BMW 4 Series — 83.2% adjusted
All BMW models

Common questions

How reliable is the BMW I8 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the BMW I8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.8% across 2,142 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW I8?: The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 52.1% of failed BMW I8 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a BMW I8?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 29.2% of all BMW I8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a BMW I8 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 42,563 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.