BMW 125 MOT pass rate: 82.6% (4,332 tests, 2025)

The BMW 125 passed 82.6% of its 4,332 MOT tests in 2025 — 5.1 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 11 years old with 85,602 miles on the clock.

82.6%Pass rate (2025)

4,332MOT tests analysed

85,602 miMedian mileage at test

11 yrsMedian age at test

How the 125 compares

BMW 125

82.6%

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 125

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 125:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	358	27.0%
2	Suspension	280	21.1%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	265	20.0%
4	Brakes	222	16.7%
5	Visibility	88	6.6%
6	Road Wheels	58	4.4%

Pre-MOT checklist for 125 owners

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

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

125 pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2008	1,628	79.5%	+14.4 pts	91,913
2014	1,978	80.9%	+5.1 pts	86,980
2015	2,633	84.3%	+5.6 pts	76,824

Check a specific 125 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 125?

In 2025, 82.6% of 4,332 first MOT tests on the BMW 125 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 125 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (27.0% of its recorded defects), followed by suspension.

Is the BMW 125 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 82.6% it performs above the national average at a median age of 11 years and 85,602 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.