Bmw 118 vs Bmw 120: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 118
81%
MOT pass rate · 195,122 vehicles
Bmw 120
80%
MOT pass rate · 62,290 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 118 (81%) and Bmw 120 (80%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 118 | Bmw 120 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 81% ✓ | 80% |
| MOT failure rate | 19% ✓ | 20% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.5 ✓ | 1.7 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 4% | 3% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 85,676 mi | 115,908 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 195,122 | 62,290 |
Most common faults
Bmw 118
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Bmw 120
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 118 (81%) and Bmw 120 (80%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 118 report Full Bmw 120 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.