Does the BMW 8 Series fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The BMW 8 Series records 2.92 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 3.26 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.34, 95% interval −0.62 to −0.06). It ranks 332 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a BMW 8 Series by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW 8 Series is “Emissions levels exceed default limits”, recorded 152 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 152 | 0.94 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 98 | 0.61 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 70 | 0.43 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 53 | 0.33 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 40 | 0.25 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 16,114 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a BMW 8 Series gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
5.0% of BMW 8 Series MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.5 months and 1,011 miles later (718 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 718 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
BMW 8 Series 2018 · BMW 8 Series 2019 · BMW 8 Series 2020 · BMW 8 Series by postcode area · BMW 8 Series body, chassis and structure failures · BMW 8 Series brakes failures · BMW 8 Series vehicle identification failures · BMW 8 Series lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW 8 Series road wheels failures · BMW 8 Series seat belts and airbags failures · BMW 8 Series steering failures · BMW 8 Series suspension failures · BMW 8 Series tyres failures · BMW 8 Series visibility failures