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BMW i3 reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 134,507 MOT tests of cars first registered 2014–2022.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
87.7%pass first time
+3.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 83%of cars
134,507MOT tests

Verdict

The BMW i3 passes its MOT first time on 87.7% of tests, 3.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (84.1%). That puts it ahead of 83% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

Of its engines, the 0.6 Hybrid does best (beats 92%) and the Electric worst (beats 70%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, suspension.

Watch these weak spots

Indicator side repeaters2.6×as often as a typical car
Wheel condition5.0×as often as a typical car
Airbag warning light2.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

60%70%80%90%100%3456789101189%90%89%88%87%86%82%82%80%
BMW i3Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2014
Beats 94%
2015
Beats 92%
2016
Beats 90%
2017
Beats 86%
2018
Beats 87%
2019
Beats 72%
2020
Beats 60%
2021
Beats 52%
2022
Beats 32%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2014–202274,31988.3%Beats 70%B
0.6 Hybrid2014–201960,18887.0%Beats 92%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 0.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 3.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 0.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 3.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.1 ptsTyres: 5.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 0.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 0.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.6 ptsExhaust: 0.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.8 ptsSuspension: 0.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 0.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 3.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 3.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.1 ptsTyres: 5.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 0.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.0 ptsSuspension: 0.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.6 ptsExhaust: 0.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.8 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 5.5% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
5.5% vs 5.0%
Lights & electrics
3.1% vs 4.2%
Visibility
2.3% vs 3.3%
Suspension
0.9% vs 2.5%
Brakes
0.8% vs 2.8%
Seat belts & airbags
0.5% vs 0.3%
Wheels
0.5% vs 0.2%
Emissions & leaks
0.2% vs 1.0%
Body & structure
0.2% vs 0.8%
Steering
0.0% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Indicator side repeaters 2.6× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k92%89%87%84%80%77%
BMW i3Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.5%3.0%1.2×
Headlight aim2.0%1.6%1.2×
Tyre tread depth1.8%1.6%1.2×
Windscreen washers1.4%1.2%1.2×
Windscreen wipers0.8%2.0%0.4×
Indicator side repeaters0.6%0.2%2.6×
Coil springs0.5%0.9%0.6×
Airbag warning light0.4%0.1%2.6×
Headlight bulbs & units0.3%0.7%0.5×
Wheel condition0.3%0.1%5.0×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A tyre seriously damaged25.0
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements19.8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.5
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen14.2
A tyre cords visible or damaged8.8
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.1
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.3
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened4.8
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 BMW i31 engine89.1% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric5,39989.1%Beats 32%D
2021 BMW i31 engine89.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric9,87789.2%Beats 52%C
2020 BMW i31 engine88.8% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric15,68488.8%Beats 60%C
2019 BMW i32 engines88.6% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric18,66188.5%Beats 70%B
0.6 Hybrid1,14590.0%Beats 92%A
2018 BMW i32 engines88.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Hybrid11,40789.1%Beats 91%A
Electric6,49188.7%Beats 78%B
2017 BMW i32 engines87.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Hybrid15,45987.0%Beats 87%A
Electric5,96687.8%Beats 83%A
2016 BMW i32 engines86.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Hybrid13,13486.7%Beats 91%A
Electric3,65487.7%Beats 87%A
2015 BMW i32 engines86.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Hybrid12,53286.2%Beats 94%A
Electric4,51886.1%Beats 81%A
2014 BMW i32 engines85.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
0.6 Hybrid6,51185.1%Beats 96%A
Electric4,06985.3%Beats 90%A

FAQ

What is the BMW i3 MOT pass rate?

87.7% of MOT tests on the BMW i3 were passed first time, based on 134,507 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2014–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 84.1% of the time.

Is the BMW i3 reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 83% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which BMW i3 engine is best?

Across all years, the 0.6 Hybrid does best: it beats 92% of cars on UK roads. The Electric does worst: it beats 70%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the BMW i3?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, indicator side repeaters comes up 2.6× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.