BMW 120 (2007)
2007 BMW 120
CarHunch analysed 5,496 real MOT records for the 2007 BMW 120.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2007 BMW 120 passes its MOT on first attempt just under 80% of the time—fractionally below the UK average—but the real concern is that 42.9% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd expect for a vehicle of this age. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both hovering around 78–79%, so fuel type won't be a deciding factor.
At 89,000 miles median, these cars are showing typical mileage for their age, which makes the high defect rate particularly telling: these aren't worn-out high-milers, yet they're racking up an average of 3.58 failures and 22 advisories per test. Expect suspension, cooling, and electrical gremlins to be common—budget for repairs and always get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags safety-critical systems before committing to one.
The 2007 BMW 120 has a decent first-time pass rate (79%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 5,496 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 5,496 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2007.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,496 BMW 120 cars.
Before you buy a 2007 BMW 120
Based on MOT data from 5,496 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
42.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (85%) | 4,657 | 79.1% | 3.54 |
| Petrol (15%) | 839 | 78.4% | 3.83 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 61,678 BMW 120 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2007 BMW 120 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2007 BMW 120 vehicles fall between 71,704 and 107,127 miles.
2007 BMW 120 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 37% of 2007 BMW 120s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 1,892 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (37% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 2007 BMW 120 stacks up against a rival.