Used car guide

2006 BMW 120: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 BMW 120s, from 1,752 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,752MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
7,300typical miles a year
5.7×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 BMW 120s than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Flexible brake hoses5.7× usual
    BMW 120
    31.3% All 2006 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Sub-frame2.6× usual
    BMW 120
    18.2% All 2006 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    BMW 120
    16.6% All 2006 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 1.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Brake pads1.9× usual
    BMW 120
    15% All 2006 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Flexible couplings34× usual
    BMW 120
    3.4% All 2006 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Headlights: 7.1% here, against 14.3% of all 2006 cars. Coil springs: 5.5% here, against 11.2% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 BMW 120 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    54% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    48% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    38% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a BMW 120?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020621Tyres 25%
2019642Tyres 26%
20181,396Tyres 28%
20172,316Tyres 27%
20163,349Tyres 27%
20153,584Tyres 29%
20142,942Tyres 32%
20132,330Tyres 31%
20122,386Tyres 34%
20113,160Tyres 36%
20103,451Suspension 39%
20092,909Suspension 40%
20083,328Brakes 45%
20071,964Brakes 47%
20051,712Brakes 50%
2004534Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 BMW 120s registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score