BMW 120i — MOT pass rate & failures
The BMW 120i passed 83.6% of its 45,730 MOT tests, covering model years 2004–2023. That tracks the BMW 1 Series range as a whole almost exactly. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,760 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.2% once past 150k — 4.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,878 | 80.6% | 19.4% |
| 2005 | 2,541 | 79.6% | 20.4% |
| 2006 | 1,882 | 80.6% | 19.4% |
| 2007 | 3,111 | 77.3% | 22.7% |
| 2008 | 6,378 | 78.4% | 21.6% |
| 2009 | 4,215 | 81.3% | 18.7% |
| 2010 | 4,887 | 81.4% | 18.6% |
| 2011 | 2,961 | 82.4% | 17.6% |
| 2012 | 1,369 | 82.9% | 17.1% |
| 2013 | 1,049 | 84.4% | 15.6% |
| 2014 | 56 | 83.9% | 16.1% |
| 2015 | 3,000 | 88.9% | 11.1% |
| 2016 | 4,004 | 89.6% | 10.4% |
| 2017 | 3,842 | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| 2018 | 3,438 | 90.5% | 9.5% |
| 2019 | 1,108 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 2,938 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,644 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 2,384 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 1,978 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 1,695 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,654 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 378 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 369 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 1,760 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,664 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,327 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,205 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,200 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,141 |
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 | 23.0% | 10,508 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 10,502 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 5,715 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 3,896 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 2,833 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 2,522 |
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 | 5,780 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 13,423 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 13,689 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 8,823 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,005 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 998 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,071 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 9,655 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 9,282 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 8,660 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 8,062 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a BMW 120i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 120i at MOT time?
83.6% of the 45,730 BMW 120i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate, in line with the 16.0% average across all 1 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 120i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.8%).
Does the 120i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,730 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.