BMW 123 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 57,179 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 23.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
BMW 123 MOT Reliability Overview
The BMW 123 is a moderately popular vehicle in the UK, with 57,179 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% and a failure rate of 23.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the BMW 123 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average BMW 123 presents for MOT with approximately 80,510 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2011 models achieve the highest pass rate at 79.3%, while 2007 models have the lowest at 74.6%. This 4.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the BMW 123 is Tyres, affecting 21.8% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Brakes at 18.7%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 13.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
Based on MOT data, 2010 models have the highest pass rate at 76.8%.
Based on 2024 MOT test results only — the most recent data available. "Built" = year of manufacture. Cars need their first MOT at 3 years old, so the newest cars shown are from ~3 years ago.
Bar chart showing pass rate by manufacture year from 2008 to 2011
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 6 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different BMW 123 vintages degrade over time, from age 2 to 20 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the BMW 123. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 17 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The BMW 123 shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 21% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 13 (31.5% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.0% | 13,126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 10,795 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 7,815 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 13.1% | 7,490 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,785 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 2.5% | 1,439 |
| 7 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.2% | 1,260 |
| 8 | Road Wheels | 1.4% | 813 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.4% | 784 |
| 10 | Non-component Advisories | 1.3% | 734 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.8% | 454 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.8% | 429 |
| 13 | Steering | 0.6% | 317 |
| 14 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.4% | 216 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 80,510 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 2.85 | 23.0% | 13,126 |
| Brakes | 2.34 | 18.9% | 10,795 |
| Suspension | 1.70 | 13.7% | 7,815 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.63 | 13.1% | 7,490 |
| Visibility | 0.70 | 5.6% | 3,224 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.27 | 2.2% | 1,260 |
| Wheels | 0.18 | 1.4% | 813 |
| Body & Structure | 0.17 | 1.4% | 784 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.16 | 1.3% | 734 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.10 | 0.8% | 454 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.09 | 0.8% | 429 |
| Steering | 0.07 | 0.6% | 317 |
| Seat Belts | 0.05 | 0.4% | 216 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average BMW 123 has 80,510 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The BMW 123 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.93% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About BMW 123 MOT Data
The BMW 123 is a moderately popular vehicle in the UK, with 57,179 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% and a failure rate of 23.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For BMW 123 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 123 is likely to perform.
Tyres — 21.8% of failures
Tyres issues account for 21.8% of MOT failures on the BMW 123. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 18.7% of failures
Brakes issues account for 18.7% of MOT failures on the BMW 123. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 13.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 13.7% of MOT failures on the BMW 123. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW 123?
Based on 57,179 MOT tests in our database, the BMW 123 has an overall pass rate of 76.4% (23.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW 123?
The top 3 reasons a BMW 123 fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (21.8%), 2. Brakes (18.7%), 3. Suspension (13.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the BMW 123 reliable?
With a 23.6% MOT failure rate, the 123 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my BMW 123?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (21.8%); Brakes (18.7%); Suspension (13.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.