Used car guide

2019 BMW 8 Series petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol BMW 8 Series first registered in 2019 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,101 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,101MOTs of 2019 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 85%)
5,600typical miles a year
26%had tyres flagged

Common 2019 BMW 8 Series petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2019 BMW 8 Series petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    6% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Suspension
    1% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    1% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2019 BMW 8 Series petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a BMW 8 Series?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the BMW 8 Series compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022–Too few tests
2021184Tyres 22%
20201,102Tyres 23%
2018633Tyres 22%
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of BMW 8 Series cars first registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score