BMW
123
7,518 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where 123s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 0.8 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
76.7%
Pass-after-fix
4.9%
Fail
17.4%
Avg miles
121,640
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered before September 2015 are typically pre-Euro 6 — subject to daily charges in London ULEZ (£12.50), Birmingham CAZ (£8), Bristol CAZ (£9), and Glasgow LEZ. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
The picture
123: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 4,455 MOT tests, the 123 returns 73.7% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. Shock absorber damaged to the extent and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 116,658, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 26–36
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–36
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
323 occurrences · 4.3% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
306 occurrences · 4.1% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
242 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 04
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
164 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 05
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
118 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 06
A tyre cords visible or damaged
113 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 07
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
100 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 08
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
87 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 09
Flexible brake hose slightly damaged, chafed or twisted
81 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 10
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
76 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£148–£370
If every one of this 123's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ADRG-640 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-904 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-905 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£10.99
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a 123?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 123 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.