BMW 120 MOT pass rate: 77.0% (38,510 tests, 2025)

The BMW 120 passed 77.0% of its 38,510 MOT tests in 2025 — right on the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 13 years old with 98,360 miles on the clock.

77.0%Pass rate (2025)

38,510MOT tests analysed

98,360 miMedian mileage at test

13 yrsMedian age at test

How the 120 compares

BMW 120

77.0%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW 120

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 120:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	4,617	21.8%
2	Brakes	4,409	20.8%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4,100	19.4%
4	Tyres	4,006	18.9%
5	Visibility	1,698	8.0%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	1,118	5.3%

Pre-MOT checklist for 120 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

120 pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2020. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2006, 2007. Full ranking and method: BMW 120 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2004	2,185	70.7%	+6.4 pts	123,068
2005	6,759	70.4%	+6.0 pts	139,241
2006	6,420	71.3%	+6.9 pts	136,854
2007	7,151	72.5%	+7.4 pts	125,474
2008	11,522	71.4%	+6.3 pts	114,800
2009	9,480	71.8%	+5.4 pts	111,542
2010	10,967	72.4%	+5.0 pts	107,577
2011	9,852	73.5%	+4.3 pts	101,875
2012	7,315	72.3%	+1.1 pts	98,552
2013	7,120	78.7%	+5.4 pts	91,779
2014	8,925	80.7%	+4.8 pts	90,044
2015	10,734	84.2%	+5.4 pts	76,446
2016	10,001	86.2%	+4.8 pts	66,984
2017	6,901	87.2%	+3.2 pts	56,606
2018	4,148	87.0%	+0.6 pts	46,995
2019	1,906	88.7%	+0.3 pts	37,625
2020	1,895	89.6%	-0.4 pts	32,673

Check a specific 120 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests 11678.5% pass rate · 100,371 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 120?

In 2025, 77.0% of 38,510 first MOT tests on the BMW 120 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 120 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (21.8% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the BMW 120 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 77.0% it performs below the national average at a median age of 13 years and 98,360 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.