Bmw 120
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 18 years from 86,600 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
84%
Total Tests
86,600
Best Year
2021 (95%)
Years Covered
18
How reliable is the Bmw 120?
Bmw 120 by Year
| Year | Pass Rate | Tests | Avg Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95% | 483 | 28,181 mi |
| 2020 | 92% | 1,544 | 34,573 mi |
| 2019 | 91% | 1,402 | 40,327 mi |
| 2018 | 88% | 2,782 | 51,035 mi |
| 2017 | 89% | 4,400 | 60,816 mi |
| 2016 | 88% | 6,285 | 70,978 mi |
| 2015 | 87% | 7,182 | 80,308 mi |
| 2014 | 85% | 6,016 | 94,560 mi |
| 2013 | 84% | 4,844 | 94,843 mi |
| 2012 | 81% | 5,511 | 100,642 mi |
| 2011 | 81% | 7,312 | 105,780 mi |
| 2010 | 79% | 7,884 | 109,003 mi |
| 2009 | 80% | 7,071 | 113,731 mi |
| 2008 | 78% | 8,671 | 117,236 mi |
| 2007 | 78% | 4,860 | 126,038 mi |
| 2006 | 76% | 4,412 | 139,019 mi |
| 2005 | 77% | 4,504 | 139,808 mi |
| 2004 | 77% | 1,437 | 127,612 mi |
Checking a specific Bmw 120?
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About the Bmw 120
The Bmw 120 has been tested 86,600 times in 2024 MOT data across 18 model years (2004 to 2021), with an average pass rate of 84%. That's slightly above the national average of 82%. Available as petrol and diesel.
Best and Worst Years
The 2021 model is the most reliable with a 95% pass rate from 483 tests. The 2006 model has the lowest at 76%. With a 19 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.
Reliability Trend
Newer BMW 120s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 10 percentage points.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (2004) averages 127,612 miles, while the newest (2021) averages 28,181 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.
Compared to the Bmw brand average of 88%, the 120 is 4 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Bmw models.
Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.