2009 BMW 120 MOT pass rate: 71.8% (9,480 tests)
Is the 2009 120 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2009-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 72.7% +5.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 72.0% +5.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 70.4% +4.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2009 120
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 1,577 | 22.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,556 | 22.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,332 | 18.9% |
| 4 | Tyres | 1,148 | 16.3% |
| 5 | Visibility | 523 | 7.4% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 372 | 5.3% |
All 120 years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW 120 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- 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
FAQs
Is a 2009 BMW 120 reliable?
2009-registered examples passed 71.8% of their MOT tests (9,480 tests, 2023–2025), +5.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 17 years old with a median 111,542 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2009 120?
The median tested example shows 111,542 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2009 120?
In this cohort petrols pass 76.9% of tests against 70.4% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.