2020 BMW 8 Series — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 BMW 8 Series passed 89.0% of its 6,024 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), the 2020 8 Series comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 9.4% of tests against 1.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plates and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 76 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 14.3% in the 60-90k band, a 4.7-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.8% of the time against 12.0% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 11.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.4% | 568 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 71 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.8% | 46 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 26 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 21 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 73 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 4 | Washers | 23 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 12 |
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 | 16.4% | 985 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.8% | 226 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 182 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 95 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 68 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 42 |
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 | 3,378 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,330 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 294 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,207 | 10.8% |
| Diesel | 817 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 169 | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 2,052 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 1,884 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 1,916 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 8 Series
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (9.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.8% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2020 BMW 8 Seriess pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 6,024 2020 BMW 8 Series MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW 8 Series?
Tyres, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2020 8 Series get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,024 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.