2015 BMW i8 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,504 MOT tests on the 2015 BMW i8 are in this dataset, and 91.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 16.3% of the time, so this is 7.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (1.6%) 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 joints — tread depth alone was recorded 178 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 i8 fails 6.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 8.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 149 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.6% | 57 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 50 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 44 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 28 |
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 | 178 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 58 |
| 3 | Joints | 53 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 5 | Wipers | 30 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 26 |
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 | 20.3% | 713 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 257 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 133 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 113 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.1% | 109 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 52 |
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 | 1,156 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,652 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 587 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 6.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 741 | 10.3% |
| 2022 | 709 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 722 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 666 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 666 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 i8
On a 2015 i8, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (1.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2015 BMW i8s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 3,504 2015 BMW i8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW i8?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (1.6%).
Does the 2015 i8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 6.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,504 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.