CarVerify

MG B GT V8 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free MG B GT V8 car check

Is the MG B GT V8 reliable? We analysed 7,164 real MOT tests across 809 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific MG B GT V8? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 7,164 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.1%
Typical Mileage
51,438mi
Annual Mileage
487mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The MG B GT V8 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used MG B GT V8.

MG B GT V8 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a MG B GT V8. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

MG B GT V8 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a MG B GT V8 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.2%
1976
78.3%
1975
81%
1974
82.1%
1973
75.5%
1971

MG B GT V8 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a MG B GT V8 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 160
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 154
brake binding 141
Stop lamp not working 132
Horn not working 109
Steering rack gaiter split 106
position lamp(s) not working 93
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 85
Headlamp aim too low 80
parking brake recording little or no effort 75

MG B GT V8 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical MG B GT V8 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
164 mi/yr
Typical
487 mi/yr
Average
1,028 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,151 mi/yr

MG B GT V8 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the MG B GT V8 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1976 966 78.2% 21,918 48,725 70,780
1975 1,664 78.3% 24,484 52,706 72,380
1974 2,734 81.0% 21,155 54,938 75,456
1973 1,440 82.1% 20,865 44,800 82,687
1971 196 75.5% 35,286 58,528 85,043

How Long Does a MG B GT V8 Last?

Based on 809 MG B GT V8 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
42.0 years
Median
43.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

MG B GT V8 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all MG B GT V8 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
51,438 mi
75th Percentile
74,588 mi
95th Percentile
94,718 mi
Max Recorded
792,590 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used MG B GT V8

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

Best year
1973

82.1% MOT pass rate from 1,440 tests

Year to avoid
1971

75.5% MOT pass rate from 196 tests

The best year to buy a used MG B GT V8 is 1973, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.1% across 1,440 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the MG B GT V8 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
MG B GT V8 THIS CAR 80.1% 7,164 51,438 mi 55 yrs
MG Zr 69.8% 651,705 57,257 mi 25 yrs
MG Mgf 66.7% 546,238 62,469 mi 31 yrs
MG Tf 72.8% 475,348 45,249 mi 24 yrs
Vauxhall Vectra Sri Cdti 150 72.4% 3,137 140,010 mi — yrs

Compared to the MG Zr (69.8% pass rate) and the MG Mgf (66.7% pass rate), the MG B GT V8 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a MG B GT V8 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 MG B GT V8

Should you buy a used MG B GT V8?

The MG B GT V8 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.1% across 7,164 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 MG B GT V8 are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (160 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (154), and brake binding (141). 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 MG B GT V8 owner drives around 487 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 MG B GT V8 models stay on UK roads for around 55 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.

MG B GT V8 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MG B GT V8 reliable?
Based on 7,164 MOT tests, the MG B GT V8 has a 80.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a MG B GT V8?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and brake binding. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a MG B GT V8 do per year?
The typical MG B GT V8 does around 487 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a MG B GT V8 last?
Most MG B GT V8 models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 809 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a MG B GT V8?
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 MG B GT V8?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used MG B GT V8 is 1973 with a 82.1% pass rate across 1,440 tests.