BMW 120 reliability
MOT pass rates & common faults · 70,721 real DVSA tests · 2024
Across 70,721 real DVSA MOT tests in 2024, 67% of BMW 120 cars aged 13 years and older pass their MOT first time — ahead of the 61% average for all cars of that age. It holds up especially well on steering and body & structure.
MOT pass rate by age
Where the 120 tends to fail
Share of BMW 120 cars aged 13 years and older with no fault in each area (higher is better). The tick is the fleet average for the same age.
Holds up better than average on steering, body & structure, lights & electrics.
Common questions
Is the BMW 120 reliable?
On 2024 MOT data the BMW 120 holds up well for its age: 67% of examples aged 13 years and older pass first time, against a 61% fleet average. That puts it ahead of 61% of similar-age models.
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW 120?
First-time MOT pass rates for the BMW 120 in 2024: 4 to 7 years, 87%; 8 to 12 years, 79%; and 13 years and older, 67%. Pass rates fall with age across the whole fleet, so compare each figure with cars of the same age, not with a new car.
What commonly fails on a BMW 120 MOT?
For BMW 120 cars aged 4 to 7 years, the areas that fail an MOT more often than the fleet average are tyres (4.5% of tests vs 3.3% fleet).