BMW F800S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW F800S car check
Is the BMW F800S reliable? We analysed 1,434 real MOT tests across 123 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW F800S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW F800S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW F800S.
BMW F800S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW F800S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW F800S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW F800S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW F800S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW F800S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW F800S Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW F800S models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW F800S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW F800S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW F800S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW F800S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 96 | 90.6% | 8,485 | 14,254 | 20,508 |
| 2009 | 98 | 93.9% | 9,415 | 15,388 | 22,868 |
| 2008 | 246 | 85.0% | 11,091 | 19,455 | 39,938 |
| 2007 | 348 | 85.3% | 12,334 | 19,609 | 27,178 |
| 2006 | 642 | 85.7% | 12,565 | 20,276 | 31,994 |
How Long Does a BMW F800S Last?
Based on 123 BMW F800S vehicles on UK roads.
BMW F800S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW F800S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW F800S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.9% MOT pass rate from 98 tests
85.0% MOT pass rate from 246 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW F800S is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.9% across 98 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW F800S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW F800S THIS CAR | 86.3% | 1,434 | 18,662 mi | 20 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Vauxhall Corsa Energy A/c Ecoflex | 91.2% | 467 | 34,234 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW F800S outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW F800S you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW F800SShould you buy a used BMW F800S?
The BMW F800S has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.3% across 1,434 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 BMW F800S are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (23 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (12), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (11). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW F800S with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical BMW F800S owner drives around 1,363 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 BMW F800S models stay on UK roads for around 20 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.