Petrol BMW 125: MOT pass rate

83.5% of petrol BMW 125s pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,356 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 76,414.

Petrol against the other BMW 125 versions

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 125 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 83.5%, and this petrol version sits 0.3 points above 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. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol BMW 125 had covered 76,414 miles at test, against 89,080 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 125 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol BMW 125

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.5% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this defect)
2. Warning device shows system malfunction, 1.1% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.4% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 0.9% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.1% of tests
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2% of tests
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.6% 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 2,366 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 125 tests, 2024, split out from the BMW 125's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.45% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol BMW 125

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 8.4% of tests (14.93x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.3% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.6% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.4% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
5. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.4% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 25.2% of tests, also fails
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 10.3% of tests, also fails
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 9.5% of tests, also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.8% of tests
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.7% of tests, also fails

From 2,366 DVSA-tracked petrol BMW 125 tests, 2024.

Other BMW 125 fuel types

• Diesel BMW 125 - 82.9%

All BMW 125 MOT data · Every model