Used buying checklist

BMW I3 reliability, common problems and used buying checks

A used BMW I3 looks better than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 8.2% of 21,917 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical.

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.

• 8.2% MOT failure rate
• Median tested mileage 30,833 miles
• 1,799 failed MOT tests analysed

Most useful finding

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest area to check

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen, provides insufficient washer liquid, and damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view.

Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:

• jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen
• provides insufficient washer liquid
• damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
• does not clear the windscreen effectively
• Nail in tyre
• distorted to the extent the tyre is likely to become detached
• Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch
• missing in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
• worn down to wear indicator
• warning lamp indicates a fault

Before you view one

Focus on windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical

The model's recorded failure rate is 8.2%, -10.5 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.

• MOT tests analysed21,917 tests
• Median tested mileage30,833 miles
• Failed MOT tests1,799

Used buyer verdict

Should you buy a used BMW I3?

91.8% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 8.2%, -10.5 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.

Better than average in our MOT data

Green light if The car has a tidy MOT pattern, recent repairs for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical, matching tyres, and paperwork for service or recall work.

Renegotiate if The latest MOT mentions windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical, consumables are due together, or the seller cannot show what was fixed after advisories.

Walk away if Dangerous defects, corrosion near structural areas, warning lights, or the same component family keep returning without clear repair evidence.

• Repeat unresolved MOT notes for windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical
• windscreen, wipers, and mirrors appearing across more than one MOT
• Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
• No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
• A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen"

What should I check first?

Start with windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.

• Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results

  Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.

  • Ask the seller: Have windscreen, wiper, washer, mirror, or demisting faults appeared in recent MOT history?
  • Example MOT wording: jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen; provides insufficient washer liquid; damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, 100-150k, and 150-200k miles
• Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results

  Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (1.9 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.

  • Ask the seller: Have uneven tyre wear, damaged tyres, wheel damage, or alignment issues been corrected?
  • Example MOT wording: Nail in tyre; distorted to the extent the tyre is likely to become detached; Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 150-200k miles
• Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results

  Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (0.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.

  • Ask the seller: Have any lighting, warning-light, horn, battery, or electrical MOT notes come back more than once?
  • Example MOT wording: missing in the case of multiple lamps or light sources; worn down to wear indicator; warning lamp indicates a fault
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, 100-150k, and 150-200k miles
• Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results

  Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (0.6 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.

  • Ask the seller: Has any suspension, steering, ball-joint, spring, or wheel-bearing advisory been repaired?
  • Example MOT wording: of different sizes are fitted on the same axle.; across an axle; ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k and 100-150k miles
• Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results

  Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (0.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.

  • Ask the seller: Has any sill, subframe, mounting-point, chassis, or structural corrosion advisory been repaired properly?
  • Example MOT wording: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened; excessively corroded; prescribed area excessively damaged significantly reducing structural strength
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 50-100k, 100-150k, and 150-200k miles
• Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results

  Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (0.1 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.

  • Ask the seller: Has the car had repeat emissions, smoke, exhaust, lambda, or engine-warning MOT failures?
  • Example MOT wording: leaking excessively from engine

What changes with mileage?

Past 100k miles on the BMW I3, MOT records most often point to windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering.

Common MOT problem areas

21,917 MOT tests analysed for this model

19,542 Distinct vehicles represented

8.2% Recorded MOT test failure rate — -10.5 percentage points vs all models

Common faults: what usually fails on this model?

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen
• provides insufficient washer liquid

3.8 MOT notes per 100 tests

Tyres and wheels

• Nail in tyre
• distorted to the extent the tyre is likely to become detached

1.9 MOT notes per 100 tests

Lights and electrical

• missing in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
• worn down to wear indicator

0.8 MOT notes per 100 tests

Suspension and steering

• of different sizes are fitted on the same axle.
• across an axle

0.6 MOT notes per 100 tests

Corrosion and structure

• corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened
• excessively corroded

0.5 MOT notes per 100 tests

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• leaking excessively from engine

0.1 MOT notes per 100 tests

Recall-related areas to verify

Official recall areas

Manufacturer recall notices for the BMW I3 mainly involve 4 areas: seatbelts and safety systems, mixed recall notices, lights and electrical, and suspension and steering. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.

Seatbelts and safety systems

• The micro gas generator within the front seatbelt's retractor may have been damaged
• The material quality of the screws used for seat belts and rear seats may not be to specifications.

3 recalls · 2,245 vehicles

Mixed recall notices

• The control ring of the backrest recliner in the second seat row may break
• The electric motor electronics printed circuit board was not manufactured according to the specifications

2 recalls · 202 vehicles

Lights and electrical

• During supplier s production process of the battery cells a manufacturing defect occurred with the winding of cell-internal films for the high-voltage battery.

1 recall · 18 vehicles

Suspension and steering

• Steering may not behave as designed

1 recall · 41 vehicles

Mileage and age checks

Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?

Past 100k miles on the BMW I3, MOT records most often point to windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, tyres and wheels, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median mileage
0-50k	16,783	15,099	7.1%-3.7 percentage points vs all models	25,150 miles
50-100k	4,624	4,030	11.5%-9.2 percentage points vs all models	63,738 miles
100-150k	399	333	15.3%-10.9 percentage points vs all models	112,481 miles
150-200k	31	25	19.4%-7.9 percentage points vs all models	158,626 miles
200k+	2	2	50.0%+23.4 percentage points vs all models	440,450 miles

Problem areas by mileage

Past 100k miles on the BMW I3, MOT records most often point to windscreen, wipers, and mirrors, corrosion and structure, and suspension and steering.

Mileage range	Car areas most often recorded	Specific MOT defect examples
0-50k	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (3.0 MOT notes per 100 tests) Tyres and wheels (2.0 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (0.5 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
50-100k	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (6.4 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (1.9 MOT notes per 100 tests) Tyres and wheels (1.4 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
100-150k	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (7.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Corrosion and structure (3.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Suspension and steering (3.0 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
150-200k	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (16.1 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (6.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Tyres and wheels (3.2 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
200k+	Mixed MOT checks (150.0 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.

Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?

The MOT failure rate rises from 7.2% at 0-3 years to 15.0% at 10-15 years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 15.0% for 10-15 years cars, based on 20 tests.

Age range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median age
0-3 years 2023–2026 reg.	3,712	3,436	7.2%-1.2 percentage points vs all models	3.0 years
3-6 years 2020–2023 reg.	10,811	9,681	7.3%-3.3 percentage points vs all models	4.3 years
6-10 years 2016–2020 reg.	7,374	6,465	10.0%-6.6 percentage points vs all models	7.4 years
10-15 years 2011–2016 reg.	20	18	15.0%-8.5 percentage points vs all models	10.0 years

Recall records and data freshness

Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?

6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.

2022-11-14	During supplier s production process of the battery cells a manufacturing defect occurred with the winding of cell-internal films for the high-voltage battery. During supplier�s production process of the battery cells a manufacturing defect occurred with the winding of cell-internal films for the high-voltage battery. The defective cell module will be replaced.
2022-03-30	THE MICRO GAS GENERATOR WITHIN THE FRONT SEATBELT'S RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED The micro gas generator within the front seatbelt�s retractor may have been damaged and may not act according to the specification in the event of an accident. On the affected vehicles the front seatbelts will be checked and replaced if they are found to have been damaged
2021-12-29	THE MATERIAL QUALITY OF THE SCREWS USED FOR SEAT BELTS AND REAR SEATS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATIONS. The material quality of seat and seatbelt screws may not be according to specification. On the affected vehicles the screws will be replaced in specific locations on the seat belts or rear seats.
2021-04-28	THE CONTROL RING OF THE BACKREST RECLINER IN THE SECOND SEAT ROW MAY BREAK The control ring of the recliner of the backrest in the second seat row may break due to insufficient material performance. On the affected vehicles the seat frames of the second seat row will be replaced.
2020-06-08	THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE SENSOR FOR THE ROLLOVER DETECTION The air bag control unit may have been equipped with a defective sensor for the rollover detection. The Airbag control unit (ACSM4i) will be replaced on the affected vehicles.
2020-04-03	THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ELECTRONICS PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE SPECIFICATIONS The Electric Motor Electronics (EME) printed circuit board was not manufactured according to specifications The Electric Motor Electronics (EME) of vehicles affected will be replaced.

Related searches

Common ways people look up the BMW I3. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.

• BMW I3 common problems
• BMW I3 reliability
• BMW I3 after 100k miles
• BMW I3 after 200k miles
• BMW I3 high mileage common problems
• BMW I3 age related problems
• BMW I3 MOT failures
• BMW I3 recalls

Related reliability guides

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.