2008 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 277 MOT tests, the 2008 Bentley Arnage recorded a 91.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the 2008 Arnage comes out 18.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 5.4% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.3% versus 7.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 15 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 5 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 3 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 4 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.3% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 19 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.7% | 13 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.5% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 3 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 77 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 127 | 5.5% |
| 60-90k | 57 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 57 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 56 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Arnage
On a 2008 Arnage, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (1.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 277 2008 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Bentley Arnage?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (2.2%).
Does the 2008 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 277 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.