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Bentley Eight Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Bentley Eight reliable? We analysed 7,125 real MOT tests across 539 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,125 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.9%
Typical Mileage
82,371mi
Annual Mileage
515mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
42yrs

The Bentley Eight is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bentley Eight.

Bentley Eight Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Bentley Eight. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Bentley Eight MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Bentley Eight to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75%
1992
78.9%
1991
80.3%
1990
77.4%
1989
78.4%
1988
75.4%
1987
77.8%
1986
77.3%
1985
79.8%
1984

Bentley Eight Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Bentley Eight fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 540
parking brake recording little or no effort 277
Brake pipe excessively corroded 100
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 99
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 93
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 84
position lamp(s) not working 83
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 77
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 74
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 73

Bentley Eight Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Bentley Eight owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
155 mi/yr
Typical
515 mi/yr
Average
1,148 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,265 mi/yr

Bentley Eight MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bentley Eight year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1992 340 75.0% 58,685 73,940 94,496
1991 944 78.9% 51,909 73,002 86,128
1990 977 80.3% 39,586 77,846 104,912
1989 1,141 77.4% 55,748 81,617 105,690
1988 869 78.4% 71,486 85,258 106,428
1987 851 75.4% 73,921 88,368 120,594
1986 1,000 77.8% 70,758 90,734 120,700
1985 611 77.3% 72,207 95,780 122,971
1984 193 79.8% 74,436 98,867 121,038

How Long Does a Bentley Eight Last?

Based on 539 Bentley Eight vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.5 years
Median
31.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
42 years

Bentley Eight Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Bentley Eight MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
82,371 mi
75th Percentile
107,749 mi
95th Percentile
148,022 mi
Max Recorded
852,102 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Bentley Eight

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1990

80.3% MOT pass rate from 977 tests

Year to avoid
1992

75.0% MOT pass rate from 340 tests

The best year to buy a used Bentley Eight is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.3% across 977 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Bentley Eight Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Bentley Eight THIS CAR 77.9% 7,125 82,371 mi 42 yrs
Bentley Continental 90% 209,069 37,776 mi 29 yrs
Bentley Arnage 85.9% 40,970 45,703 mi 28 yrs
Bentley Turbo 78.7% 31,416 73,541 mi 41 yrs
Ford Kuga St-line First ED PHEV CVT 90.3% 3,645 30,662 mi — yrs

Compared to the Bentley Continental (90.0% pass rate) and the Bentley Arnage (85.9% pass rate), the Bentley Eight trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Bentley Eight?

The Bentley Eight has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.9% across 7,125 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Bentley Eight are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (540 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (277), and brake pipe excessively corroded (100). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Bentley Eight owner drives around 515 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Bentley Eight models stay on UK roads for around 42 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Bentley Eight — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bentley Eight reliable?
Based on 7,125 MOT tests, the Bentley Eight has a 77.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Bentley Eight?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Bentley Eight do per year?
The typical Bentley Eight does around 515 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Bentley Eight last?
Most Bentley Eight models stay on UK roads for around 42 years based on our analysis of 539 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Bentley Eight?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Bentley Eight?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Bentley Eight is 1990 with a 80.3% pass rate across 977 tests.