Get Started
BMW

BMW 120 — Reliability by Year

61,583 vehicles · MOT data 2004–2021 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the BMW 120 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

✓
Best pass rate year
2021
93.8% pass rate · 208 vehicles
⚠
Lowest pass rate year
2004
78.3% pass rate · 2,757 vehicles
Year Pass rate Avg mileage Vehicles
2021
93.8%
31,038 mi 208
2020
91.6%
33,263 mi 612
2019
90.3%
33,964 mi 620
2018
88.7%
39,248 mi 1,379
2017
89.8%
46,006 mi 2,348
2016
88.3%
51,399 mi 3,454
2015
86.8%
56,693 mi 3,785
2014
84.2%
65,248 mi 3,242
2013
83.7%
66,032 mi 2,669
2012
81.1%
68,813 mi 2,864
2011
82.1%
72,143 mi 3,982
2010
81.2%
75,111 mi 4,819
2009
80.9%
76,398 mi 4,556
2008
79.8%
79,700 mi 6,823
2007
79.0%
85,263 mi 5,496
2006
79.1%
90,639 mi 4,983
2005
78.3%
92,868 mi 6,986
2004
78.3%
83,931 mi 2,757

Which year BMW 120 is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 31,038 miles (newest year) to 92,868 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a BMW 120.

See the buying guide →

← All BMW models

Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.