BMW 120: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 120 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 42,025 individual BMW 120 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 76.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 24 in every 100 BMW 120s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average BMW 120 tested had covered 98,243 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 120 sits 0.3 points below the national average, ranked 1,574 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific BMW 120 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged BMW 120s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 120

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 1.3% of tests (14.27x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.4% of tests (4.62x the national rate for this defect)
3. A wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud, 1.2% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.2% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.5% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 4% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
8. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.8% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.7% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)

From 41,971 DVSA-tracked BMW 120 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.12% of these flagged BMW 120 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 120

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a BMW 120 before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 12.3% of tests (21.87x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.4% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 9.5% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33% of tests (1.24x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 11% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 6.5% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.4% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11.8% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 9.4% of tests, also fails

From 41,971 DVSA-tracked BMW 120 tests, 2024.

BMW 120 pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2020 model year, the BMW 120's first-time pass rate has risen 15.5 points, from 73.4% to 88.9%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 120 year:

• 2004 BMW 120 - 73.4% first-time pass, 707 tests
• 2005 BMW 120 - 69.5% first-time pass, 2,233 tests
• 2006 BMW 120 - 70.5% first-time pass, 2,134 tests
• 2007 BMW 120 - 72.6% first-time pass, 2,395 tests
• 2008 BMW 120 - 70.8% first-time pass, 3,918 tests
• 2009 BMW 120 - 71.9% first-time pass, 3,170 tests
• 2010 BMW 120 - 72.5% first-time pass, 3,686 tests
• 2011 BMW 120 - 73.3% first-time pass, 3,303 tests
• 2012 BMW 120 - 73.4% first-time pass, 2,487 tests
• 2013 BMW 120 - 77.9% first-time pass, 2,386 tests
• 2014 BMW 120 - 80.2% first-time pass, 3,019 tests
• 2015 BMW 120 - 83.9% first-time pass, 3,638 tests
• 2016 BMW 120 - 85.5% first-time pass, 3,374 tests
• 2017 BMW 120 - 87.2% first-time pass, 2,343 tests
• 2018 BMW 120 - 84.9% first-time pass, 1,401 tests
• 2019 BMW 120 - 88.9% first-time pass, 648 tests
• 2020 BMW 120 - 88.9% first-time pass, 649 tests
• 2021 BMW 120 - 93.5% first-time pass, 216 tests

BMW 120 by fuel type

The BMW 120's two most-tested fuel types split by 4.2 points: diesel passes first time 76.2% of the time (34,275 tests) against 80.4% for petrol (7,440 tests).

• Diesel BMW 120 - 76.2% first-time pass, 34,275 tests
• Petrol BMW 120 - 80.4% first-time pass, 7,440 tests

Other BMW models

• BMW 3 Series - 76.8%
• BMW 118 - 81.9%
• BMW 116 - 78.6%
• BMW X1 - 85.2%
• BMW X3 - 82.3%
• BMW X5 - 81.2%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• BMW 520 - 80.2%

Models with a similar pass rate

• BMW 316 - 76.5%
• MINI One Clubman - 76.5%
• Peugeot 2008 - 76.4%
• Jaguar Xk8 - 76.4%
• Nissan 350 Z - 76.4%
• Vauxhall Combo 2300 Sportive Td - 76.4%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the BMW 120? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-120"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/bmw-120.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="BMW 120 MOT Pass Rate: 76.4% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the BMW 120's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-120"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-120.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 120 most common MOT failure: A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched (1.3% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate