BMW 123 reliability, MOT pass rate and rarity

Time Period & Model

Time period snapshot: Last 5 years

Manufacturer: BMW

Model: 123

Model reliability rank

MOT-based rank from 22,791 selected-period tests.

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Overall MOT pass rate

75.5%

Share of this model's 22,791 selected-period MOT tests that pass.

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Efficiency, emissions & tax

Average MPG

CO2 emission

Euro emissions

Tax cost

£375/yr

Average vehicle miles

129,652

Solid average mileage for this model.

Life expectancy miles

129,652

Moderate mature-fleet mileage expectation.

Average vehicle age

15.6

Older average age in the represented fleet.

Vehicles represented

2,679

2,679 valid MOT, 0 under 3 years.

Tests analysed

22,791

22,791 MOT tests in the selected period.

Rarity ranking

Based on Make & Model

Very Rare

2,679On the road

Insight summary

BMW 123 is a very rare model in this snapshot, with 2,679 represented vehicles and 0.01% of the active UK pool tracked by AutoRank. For the last 5 years, it has a pass rate of 75.5% from 22,791 MOT tests, with a reliability score of 57. The current pool shows an average of 129,652 miles and an average age of 15.6 years, while mature-fleet mileage is estimated at 129,652 miles. Diesel leads the fuel split, followed by petrol, and the most frequent defect themes are windscreen damage, tyre condition and shock absorbers. The practical read is that the BMW 123 looks a little better than average, but still rewards careful checks on mileage and maintenance.

Fuel type breakdown (by model)

Fuel	Vehicles
DIESEL	2,661
PETROL	17
ELECTRIC	1

Euro NCAP Safety

No NCAP tests found for this model.

Top 25 most common defects (by model)

Defect	Count
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))	647
Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))	375
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	325
Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	325
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))	317
Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	303
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))	272
Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))	243
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	242
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	162
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	151
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))	140
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))	138
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))	136
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	131
Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))	131
Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	131
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	126
Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))	114
Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))	113
Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))	113
Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))	110
Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))	98
Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))	97
Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))	96

All 25 defects ranked by recorded countShowing 5,036 defects across this top 25 set

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

647

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

375

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

325

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

325

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

317

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

303

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

272

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

243

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

242

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

162

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

151

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))

140

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

138

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

136

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

131

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

131

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

131

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

126

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

114

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

113

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

113

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

110

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit (8.2.2.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

BMW 123 reliability and MOT data