Used car guide

2009 BMW 120: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 BMW 120s, from 2,909 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,909MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
7,300typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 BMW 120s than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Shock absorbers2.6× usual
    BMW 120
    19.3% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 2% of all 2009 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.

  • Flexible brake hoses4.3× usual
    BMW 120
    12.8% All 2009 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 2009 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.

  • Windscreen1.8× usual
    BMW 120
    6.2% All 2009 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Individual direction indicators1.9× usual
    BMW 120
    5.4% All 2009 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Flexible couplings21× usual
    BMW 120
    2.1% All 2009 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2009 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

Coil springs: 4.6% here, against 12.4% of all 2009 cars. Number plate lights: 4.1% here, against 8.8% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 BMW 120 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% 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.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    35% 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
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% 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.

Looking at a BMW 120?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

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%
20083,328Brakes 45%
20071,964Brakes 47%
20061,752Brakes 54%
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 2009 BMW 120s registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score