BMW M8 Competition MOT pass rate & common failures
The BMW M8 Competition appears in 1,384 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2023, and 93.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.2% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and other defects (1.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 37 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.1% versus 5.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 14.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 6.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every M8 Competition model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 303 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 548 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 356 | 96.4% | 3.6% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 171 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 61 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.5% | 21 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 16 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 5 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
| 7 | Visibility | 0.1% | 1 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 4 |
| 6 | Catalytic converter | 3 |
| 7 | Requirements | 2 |
| 8 | Washers | 1 |
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 | 14.2% | 196 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.1% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.2% | 17 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 951 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 392 | 6.6% |
| 60-90k | 36 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 84 | 3.6% |
| 2023 | 280 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 422 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 598 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a BMW M8 Competition
- Tyres (4.4% 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 (1.5% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW M8 Competition?
93.8% of the 1,384 BMW M8 Competition MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 6.2% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the BMW M8 Competition most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, then other defects (1.5%).
How much does mileage affect M8 Competition MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.1% for 60-90k, a 5.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,384 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.