BMW 120d — MOT pass rate & failures
221,274 MOT tests on the BMW 120d (2004–2023) give an 80.9% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than the 16.0% fail rate across all BMW 1 Series versions, so the 120d is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 10,325 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 25.2% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 3,934 | 73.9% | 26.1% |
| 2005 | 15,304 | 75.6% | 24.4% |
| 2006 | 14,189 | 76.8% | 23.2% |
| 2007 | 14,659 | 77.5% | 22.5% |
| 2008 | 20,651 | 77.3% | 22.7% |
| 2009 | 17,184 | 77.3% | 22.7% |
| 2010 | 19,272 | 78.1% | 21.9% |
| 2011 | 18,186 | 79.2% | 20.8% |
| 2012 | 14,279 | 79.1% | 20.9% |
| 2013 | 13,473 | 83.1% | 16.9% |
| 2014 | 17,878 | 84.6% | 15.4% |
| 2015 | 17,848 | 86.5% | 13.5% |
| 2016 | 15,041 | 88.0% | 12.0% |
| 2017 | 9,212 | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| 2018 | 4,498 | 87.8% | 12.3% |
| 2019 | 1,788 | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| 2020 | 2,576 | 90.8% | 9.2% |
| 2021 | 982 | 92.5% | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 299 | 95.0% | 5.0% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 19,336 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.0% | 15,555 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 14,838 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 14,563 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 9,131 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 3,071 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 2,933 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 2,320 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 10,325 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 9,879 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 9,426 |
| 4 | Washers | 6,568 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,439 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 5,195 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.6% | 60,976 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 59,101 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.1% | 44,507 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 19,668 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 16,100 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 13,760 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 7,448 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 32,966 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 52,284 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 55,623 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 41,997 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 30,905 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48,662 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 46,883 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 44,861 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 41,958 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 38,910 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a BMW 120d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (6.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 120d at MOT time?
80.9% of the 221,274 BMW 120d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate, worse than the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 120d?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by tyres (7.0%).
Does the 120d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 221,274 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.