2019 BMW 8 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
5,876 MOT tests on the 2019 BMW 8 Series are in this dataset, and 87.4% of them passed. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 8.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, other defects and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 10.4% of tests against 0.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 88 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 8 Series fails 11.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.3% of the time against 12.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.4% | 609 |
| 2 | Other defects | 0.9% | 54 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 45 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 88 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 35 |
| 5 | Flexible couplings | 25 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
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 | 15.8% | 927 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 262 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.5% | 206 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 97 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 31 |
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 | 3,120 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,285 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 397 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,003 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 2,873 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,523 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 1,478 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 1,397 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 1,408 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 8 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 10.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (10.4% 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.
- Other defects (0.9% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Emissions & environmental (0.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2019 BMW 8 Seriess pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 5,876 2019 BMW 8 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 BMW 8 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by other defects (0.9%).
Does the 2019 8 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,876 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.