What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Daimler V8.
The Daimler V8 occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the Daimler V8 range, including 5 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Daimler V8? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
V8_1960-2013 (1960–2013) — Engine options included the 4.0L V8. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 5 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion seriously reducing rigidity (£1,000–£2,000 to address).
MOT data shows this model fails at 14.7 times the national fleet average for vehicle structure corrosion that seriously reduces rigidity. This typically affects the subframe mounting points and structural components within 30cm of suspension attachment points. The issue is worsening in the test population, indicating progressive deterioration across the fleet. Given the age of most examples, structural steel has been exposed to decades of road salt and moisture.
Structural corrosion that reduces rigidity creates a direct safety risk as it compromises the vehicle's ability to protect occupants in a collision and affects handling predictability. Professional welding repair by a bodywork specialist typically costs £1,000-£3,000 depending on the extent of corrosion. The car should not be driven if structural integrity is compromised.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
MOT data shows this model fails at 14.5 times the fleet average for wheel bearing excessive play, with 105 failures recorded across the mileage bands where the problem peaks. This affects both 60-80k and 80-100k mile ranges and appears consistently across all test years. Wheel bearing failure on older luxury cars is often accelerated by infrequent use and exposure to moisture over decades.
A wheel bearing with excessive play can collapse without warning, causing complete loss of wheel control and potential separation of the wheel from the vehicle. This creates an immediate safety risk to the driver and other road users. Bearing replacement typically costs £150-£400 per corner depending on the specific axle design.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
This is a worsening trend indicating progressive deterioration across the surviving fleet. The prescribed area around mounting points is critical for vehicle structural integrity and must meet specific strength requirements for MOT pass.
Compromised subframe mounting points can allow suspension components to separate from the vehicle structure, causing immediate loss of control. Professional structural welding repair typically costs £800-£2,500 depending on the extent of work required. The vehicle is unsafe to drive with compromised mounting point integrity.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
MOT data shows this model fails at 8.8 times the fleet average for flexible brake hoses that are excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched. Given the age of most examples, original rubber brake hoses have exceeded their design life and are subject to cracking, bulging, and internal deterioration that can cause brake failure.
Deteriorated flexible brake hoses can fail catastrophically, causing complete loss of braking on the affected circuit. This creates an immediate safety risk. Brake hose replacement typically costs £80-£150 per hose including labour. The vehicle should not be driven with compromised brake hoses.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
MOT data shows this model fails at 2.5 times the fleet average for brake pipe damage or excessive corrosion, with a worsening trend indicating progressive deterioration across the fleet. Steel brake pipes on cars of this age are particularly susceptible to corrosion where they pass through the engine bay and along the underside of the vehicle.
Corroded brake pipes can fail without warning, causing partial or complete brake system failure. This represents an immediate safety risk. Brake pipe replacement typically involves replacing the entire run from master cylinder to affected wheel, costing £150-£400 per circuit depending on complexity and accessibility.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Daimler V8 common problems page.
Based on 2k real DVSA MOT tests, the Daimler V8 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is wheel bearings worn at 30x the fleet average, followed by body, cab or chassis corroded at a mounting point (24x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Daimler V8 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 6k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Daimler V8 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Daimler V8 has some well-documented weak points, including 5 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Daimler V8, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Daimler V8 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.