Bmw 120i m sport vs Bmw 3 series: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 120i m sport
88%
MOT pass rate · 69 vehicles
More reliable
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Bmw 120i m sport is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 120i m sport | Bmw 3 series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 88% ✓ | 75% |
| MOT failure rate | 12% ✓ | 25% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.0 ✓ | 2.0 |
| Dangerous-fault share | — ✓ | 2% |
| Average mileage | 82,066 mi | 128,558 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 69 | 996,044 |
Most common faults
Bmw 120i m sport
No fault breakdown available.
Bmw 3 series
- 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 Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Bmw 120i m sport is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 75%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Bmw 120i m sport report Full Bmw 3 series 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.