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N5 ESF

2012 BMW 120

Black Diesel 1995cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Feb 2027
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

181,702 mi
Last recorded181,702 miles
Recorded on16 Feb 2026
Typical for 2012 BMW 12068,870 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationN5 ESF
MakeBMW
Model120
Year2012
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,995cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

11 pass 5 fail
Pass 16 Feb 2026 181,702 miles

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 11 Feb 2026 181,701 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 18 Feb 2025 168,765 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 30 Jan 2025 168,752 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam WHEN DIPPED BEAM IS ON (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Registration plate lamp missing in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 1 Dec 2023 155,155 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

nearside front angel eye lights not working

Fail 29 Nov 2023 155,044 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

nearside front angel eye lights not working

Pass 9 Dec 2022 134,914 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Dec 2022 134,914 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 2 Dec 2021 127,630 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2020 120,653 miles

Towball/hitch not fitted at time of test ()

parking brake efficiency only just met at 17%

Pass 14 Dec 2019 108,260 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2018 103,207 miles

under trays fitted

Pass 8 Mar 2017 95,524 miles

Nearside Rear tyre tread is low 2.00 mm

Offside Front tyre tread is low 2.00 mm

Offside Rear tyre tread is low under 3.00mm

coolant is low in expansion bottle

Fail 8 Mar 2017 95,524 miles

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Nearside Rear tyre tread is low 2.00 mm

Offside Front tyre tread is low 2.00 mm

Offside Rear tyre tread is low under 3.00mm

coolant is low in expansion bottle

Pass 10 Mar 2016 81,192 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2014 70,263 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Front tyres wearing on edges

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

How Reliable is the BMW 120?

Based on 872,714 MOT tests across 63,112 vehicles.

79.7%
Pass Rate
6,996
Miles/Year
22
Year Lifespan
63,112
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 22,169
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8,562
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 6,681
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 5,273
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 5,042
Full BMW 120 reliability report

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N5 ESF is a 2012 BMW 120 in Black with a 1,995cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

Across all 2012 BMW 120 models, the average MOT pass rate is 79.7% with a typical mileage of 68,870 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 120 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 22,169 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N5 ESF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 120 typically stays on UK roads for around 22 years. At 14 years old, this BMW 120 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N5 ESF?

You can check the full history of N5 ESF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N5 ESF registered?

N5 ESF is a 2012 BMW 120, first registered on 5 February 2012.

Is N5 ESF safe to buy?

The MOT history for N5 ESF shows 16 tests with a 68.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N5 ESF have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on N5 ESF. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.