In 2025, 38,567 BMW 120 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 72% passed first time, compared with 66% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 120 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 46 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 4 years old, 89% of 120s passed first time (all cars that age: 87%). By 20 years, that figure is 62% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 8 to 20 years.
BMW 120 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 120 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 218 | 89% | 87% | 40,010 |
| 5 years | 618 | 87% | 86% | 45,399 |
| 6 years | 638 | 86% | 84% | 49,442 |
| 7 years | 1,395 | 84% | 81% | 57,928 |
| 8 years | 2,319 | 84% | 78% | 68,029 |
| 9 years | 3,342 | 82% | 75% | 78,088 |
| 10 years | 3,575 | 80% | 72% | 86,526 |
| 11 years | 2,943 | 74% | 69% | 100,178 |
| 12 years | 2,327 | 72% | 66% | 100,576 |
| 13 years | 2,380 | 66% | 63% | 105,999 |
| 14 years | 3,153 | 68% | 61% | 108,334 |
| 15 years | 3,428 | 65% | 59% | 113,134 |
| 16 years | 2,903 | 63% | 58% | 116,253 |
| 17 years | 3,300 | 64% | 57% | 117,304 |
| 18 years | 1,960 | 64% | 57% | 127,723 |
| 19 years | 1,734 | 63% | 57% | 139,709 |
| 20 years | 1,694 | 62% | 58% | 138,621 |
What fails most on a BMW 120
The area that lets the 120 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 1.6% of tests failed on it, 13.0 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure.
Share of 120 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.5% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 4.6% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 4.0% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.7% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 3.5% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 3.1% |
What to check when buying a used 120
Based on where the 120 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 120
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 120Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 120?
In 2025, 72% of BMW 120 cars passed their MOT first time, across 38,567 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 66%.
What do BMW 120 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.5% of tests); a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (4.6% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (4.0% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.