Petrol BMW 120: MOT pass rate
80.4% of petrol BMW 120s pass the MOT first time, measured across 7,440 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 73,234.
Petrol against the other BMW 120 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 76.2% | 34,275 |
| Petrol | 80.4% | 7,440 |
| All BMW 120 | 77% | 41,718 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the BMW 120 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 80.4%, and this petrol version sits 3.4 points above the 77% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The petrol BMW 120 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol BMW 120 had covered 73,234 miles at test, against 105,582 for the diesel. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the BMW 120 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other BMW 120 fuel types
- Diesel BMW 120 - 76.2%