Diesel BMW 125: MOT pass rate
82.9% of diesel BMW 125s pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,146 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 89,080.
Diesel against the other BMW 125 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 83.5% | 2,356 |
| Diesel | 82.9% | 2,146 |
| All BMW 125 | 83.2% | 4,502 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the BMW 125 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 83.5%, and this diesel version sits 0.3 points below the 83.2% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel BMW 125 had covered 89,080 miles at test, against 76,414 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
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 125 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other BMW 125 fuel types
- Petrol BMW 125 - 83.5%