How reliable is the BMW M8 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the BMW M8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages.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 91.2% across 567 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 M8?

The item recorded most often is "Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements", which appears in 30.0% of failed BMW M8 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 M8?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 16.1% of all BMW M8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a BMW M8 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 28,696 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 M8 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 567 recorded MOT tests of the BMW M8, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 567 MOT tests, 91.2% of BMW M8 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the BMW M8 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 number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, which appears in 30.0% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 28,696 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

91.2%unadjusted, not comparable567 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the M8. 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 567 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed BMW M8 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements30.0%
12 occurrencesRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained
2.A tyre cords visible or damaged30.0%
12 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged30.0%
12 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements20.0%
8 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
5.A tyre seriously damaged7.5%
3 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
6.A tyre seriously damaged7.5%
3 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
7.A statutory seat belt missing5.0%
2 occurrencesSeat belt damaged or not working properly explained
8.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning2.5%
1 occurrencesDirection indicator not working explained
9.Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits2.5%
1 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
10.Emissions levels exceed default limits2.5%
1 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all BMW M8 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 requirements16.1%
91 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A tyre seriously damaged5.7%
32 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements4.2%
24 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.Nail in tyre3.4%
19 tests
5.A tyre seriously damaged2.6%
15 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
6.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn1.2%
7 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
7.A tyre seriously damaged1.1%
6 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
8.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm1.1%
6 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained

What gets tested

The M8 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 28,696
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (2)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

M8 COMPETITION
M8 COMPETITION AUTO

Check a specific BMW M8

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 M8 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the BMW M8, 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 91.2% across 567 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 M8?: The item recorded most often is "Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements", which appears in 30.0% of failed BMW M8 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 M8?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 16.1% of all BMW M8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a BMW M8 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 28,696 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.