BMW 125: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The BMW 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 4,525 individual BMW 125 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate82.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+6.1 points
Tests analysed4,525
Average mileage at test81,291 miles
Average year of manufacture2013
Reliability rank1,346 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 BMW 125s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average BMW 125 tested had covered 81,291 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The BMW 125 sits 6.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,346 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 125 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 125s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a BMW 125

  1. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.6% of tests (3.08x 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, 2.7% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.4% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Warning device shows system malfunction, 0.6% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.8% of tests
  6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.8% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.5% of tests
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.4% of tests
  9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1% of tests

From 4,520 DVSA-tracked BMW 125 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 7.44% of these flagged BMW 125 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a BMW 125

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 125 before it actually fails on it.

  1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 4.4% of tests (7.82x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.9% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.4% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.8% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.1% of tests, also fails
  7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.8% of tests, also fails
  8. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.9% of tests, also fails
  9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 8.8% of tests
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.7% of tests, also fails

From 4,520 DVSA-tracked BMW 125 tests, 2024.

BMW 125 pass rate by model year

From its 2008 to its 2017 model year, the BMW 125's first-time pass rate has risen 9.7 points, from 80% to 89.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each BMW 125 year:

BMW 125 by fuel type

The BMW 125's two most-tested fuel types split by 0.6 points: petrol passes first time 83.5% of the time (2,356 tests) against 82.9% for diesel (2,146 tests).

Other BMW models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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BMW 125 MOT pass rate badge: 82.8%

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BMW 125 most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (0.6% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/bmw-125"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/bmw-125.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="BMW 125 most common MOT failure: A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber (0.6% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate