BMW 120 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free BMW 120 car check
Is the BMW 120 reliable? We analysed 872,714 real MOT tests across 63,112 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific BMW 120? Enter the reg for a free check:
The BMW 120 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 120.
BMW 120 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a BMW 120. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
BMW 120 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a BMW 120 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
BMW 120 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a BMW 120 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
BMW 120 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 120 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
BMW 120 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical BMW 120 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
BMW 120 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 120 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54 | 87.0% | 15,621 | 28,834 | 39,525 |
| 2022 | 184 | 89.1% | 20,859 | 28,238 | 37,680 |
| 2021 | 646 | 90.7% | 24,488 | 34,140 | 46,362 |
| 2020 | 2,442 | 89.4% | 23,514 | 33,534 | 46,959 |
| 2019 | 3,223 | 88.6% | 22,743 | 34,402 | 50,509 |
| 2018 | 8,909 | 86.8% | 25,900 | 39,564 | 56,648 |
| 2017 | 18,103 | 88.2% | 30,151 | 45,083 | 65,160 |
| 2016 | 29,283 | 86.7% | 33,872 | 51,309 | 73,094 |
| 2015 | 36,706 | 85.2% | 37,200 | 56,516 | 79,673 |
| 2014 | 36,051 | 82.7% | 43,933 | 65,740 | 91,646 |
| 2013 | 31,773 | 82.2% | 42,798 | 65,625 | 92,229 |
| 2012 | 38,684 | 79.7% | 44,090 | 68,870 | 97,968 |
| 2011 | 57,117 | 80.6% | 45,535 | 71,376 | 100,615 |
| 2010 | 73,132 | 79.8% | 47,861 | 74,673 | 104,427 |
| 2009 | 72,465 | 79.5% | 47,188 | 75,835 | 107,535 |
| 2008 | 110,429 | 78.5% | 49,448 | 78,736 | 109,791 |
| 2007 | 90,419 | 77.8% | 53,750 | 84,780 | 117,368 |
| 2006 | 87,472 | 77.9% | 57,547 | 90,950 | 126,328 |
| 2005 | 124,005 | 77.2% | 59,090 | 92,216 | 127,578 |
| 2004 | 48,936 | 77.2% | 51,379 | 82,446 | 116,359 |
How Long Does a BMW 120 Last?
Based on 63,112 BMW 120 vehicles on UK roads.
BMW 120 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all BMW 120 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 120
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 646 tests
77.2% MOT pass rate from 48,936 tests
The best year to buy a used BMW 120 is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 646 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the BMW 120 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 120 THIS CAR | 79.7% | 872,714 | 75,415 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW 3 Series | 75.1% | 12,840,406 | 90,743 mi | 37 yrs |
| BMW 118 | 81.5% | 1,923,256 | 64,042 mi | 22 yrs |
| BMW X5 | 77% | 1,735,343 | 83,401 mi | 25 yrs |
| Volkswagen Eos | 77.7% | 319,116 | 65,585 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 120 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a BMW 120 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific BMW 120Should you buy a used BMW 120?
The BMW 120 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.7% across 872,714 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the BMW 120 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (22,169 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (8,562), and tyre has ply or cords exposed (6,681). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a BMW 120 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical BMW 120 owner drives around 6,996 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most BMW 120 models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.