BMW 120 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the BMW 120 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 86,600 MOT tests across 18 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
82%
BMW 120 pass rate
88%
BMW average
82%
All-model average
The BMW 120 has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, which is 6 points below the BMW average and equal to the average across all models in our data. Newer BMW 120s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 10 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the BMW 120 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 11,006 MOT tests on the BMW 120 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
37%Cars and vans the same age: 43% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
29%Cars and vans the same age: 37% (the 120 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
28%Cars and vans the same age: 20% (the 120 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
26%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
17%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (10% of failed tests, tyres)
- Position lamp: not working (8.2% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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BMW 120 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 120 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
BMW 120 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 92% | 7% | 92% (0) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 8% | 91% (0) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 89% (-1) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 89% | 10% | 87% (+2) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.6L | 88% | 12% | 86% (+2) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.6L | 87% | 12% | 84% (+3) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 15% | 82% (+3) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 84% | 16% | 80% (+4) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 18% | 79% (+2) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 77% (+4) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 79% | 20% | 75% (+4) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 2.0L | 80% | 19% | 75% (+5) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 74% (+4) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 73% (+5) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 73% (+3) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | 73% (+4) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | 72% (+5) |
BMW 120 Running Costs
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BMW 120 FAQ
What are the most common BMW 120 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the BMW 120 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (37% of the 11,006 failed tests), suspension (29%) and tyres (28%). The single most common fault was "Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak" (14%). Across 86,600 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 82% ended in a pass.
Is the BMW 120 reliable?
The BMW 120 has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, from 86,600 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which BMW 120 years should I avoid?
No BMW 120 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2009 (80% of 7,071 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars), the 2007 (78% of 4,860 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars) and the 2004 (77% of 1,437 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common BMW 120 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a BMW 120 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other BMW Models
Common problems pages for other BMW models