Reliability report
BMW i8 reliability and common faults
Based on 2,374 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
8.8%
fail rate · average 19.9%
much better than average
2,058 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
31.7%
with defects · average 44.4%
much better than average
316 APK inspections (RDW)
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the BMW i8
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Plates and identification
Wheels
Tyres
Body and structure
Visibility
Suspension
Brakes
Seat belts and airbags
Exhaust and emissions
Lights and electrics
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 years | 7.7% avg 15.3% | — |
| 9–11 years | 9.5% avg 22.9% | 31.7% avg 44.4% |
BMW i8 – FAQs
How reliable is the BMW i8?+
In the UK the BMW i8 fails 8.8% of MOT tests, against an average of 19.9% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 31.7% of APK inspections (average there 44.4%) – much better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the BMW i8?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: plates and identification.
What should I check when buying a used BMW i8?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More BMW models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).