2014 BMW i8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 BMW i8 passed 90.4% of its 1,077 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and side repeaters — tread depth alone was recorded 60 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.5% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.2% in 2021 to 9.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 49 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 24 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.5% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 9 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 60 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 26 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 16 |
| 4 | Wipers | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 6 | Joints | 10 |
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 | 20.1% | 216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 111 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 41 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.8% | 30 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 17 |
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 | 292 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 509 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 226 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 48 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 207 | 6.8% |
| 2023 | 217 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 216 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 207 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 i8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (1.5% 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 2014 BMW i8s pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 1,077 2014 BMW i8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW i8?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2014 i8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,077 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.