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BMW 128TI Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free BMW 128TI Auto car check

Is the BMW 128TI Auto reliable? We analysed 7,471 real MOT tests across 3,721 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,471 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.7%
Typical Mileage
25,376mi
Annual Mileage
6,714mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The BMW 128TI Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used BMW 128TI Auto.

BMW 128TI Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a BMW 128TI Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

BMW 128TI Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a BMW 128TI Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.8%
2023
92.7%
2022
91.5%
2021
91.1%
2020

BMW 128TI Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on BMW 128TI Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 147
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 32
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 15

BMW 128TI Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical BMW 128TI Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,364 mi/yr
Typical
6,714 mi/yr
Average
7,849 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,606 mi/yr

BMW 128TI Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the BMW 128TI Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 1,301 90.8% 14,966 21,402 28,455
2022 1,855 92.7% 17,072 23,282 32,159
2021 3,428 91.5% 20,001 27,907 37,019
2020 672 91.1% 19,388 27,191 38,795

How Long Does a BMW 128TI Auto Last?

Based on 3,721 BMW 128TI Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
2.9 years
Median
3.0 years

BMW 128TI Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all BMW 128TI Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
25,376 mi
75th Percentile
34,919 mi
95th Percentile
54,508 mi
Max Recorded
244,473 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used BMW 128TI Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

92.7% MOT pass rate from 1,855 tests

Year to avoid
2023

90.8% MOT pass rate from 1,301 tests

The best year to buy a used BMW 128TI Auto is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.7% across 1,855 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the BMW 128TI Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
BMW 128TI Auto THIS CAR 91.7% 7,471 25,376 mi — 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
Ford Puma St-line 90.4% 4,721 27,823 mi — yrs

Compared to the BMW 3 Series (75.1% pass rate) and the BMW 118 (81.5% pass rate), the BMW 128TI Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used BMW 128TI Auto?

The BMW 128TI Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% across 7,471 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

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 128TI Auto 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 128TI Auto owner drives around 6,714 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.

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.

BMW 128TI Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BMW 128TI Auto reliable?
Based on 7,471 MOT tests, the BMW 128TI Auto has a 91.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a BMW 128TI Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a BMW 128TI Auto do per year?
The typical BMW 128TI Auto does around 6,714 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a BMW 128TI Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a BMW 128TI Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a BMW 128TI Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used BMW 128TI Auto is 2022 with a 92.7% pass rate across 1,855 tests.