In 2025, 26,183 BMW I3 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 87% passed first time, compared with 82% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the I3 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 55 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 88% of I3s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 11 years, that figure is 79% (all cars: 69%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 4 to 11 years.
BMW I3 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | I3 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 2,922 | 88% | 88% | 19,639 |
| 4 years | 3,507 | 91% | 87% | 25,080 |
| 5 years | 4,097 | 89% | 86% | 31,215 |
| 6 years | 4,050 | 88% | 84% | 38,293 |
| 7 years | 3,105 | 89% | 81% | 46,717 |
| 8 years | 3,164 | 84% | 78% | 58,500 |
| 9 years | 2,159 | 82% | 75% | 61,316 |
| 10 years | 1,887 | 82% | 72% | 63,952 |
| 11 years | 1,173 | 79% | 69% | 67,420 |
What fails most on a BMW I3
The area that lets the I3 down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 0.5% of tests failed on it, 4.1 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on brakes and suspension.
Share of I3 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.6% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.3% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.4% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 1.7% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 1.3% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 1.1% |
What to check when buying a used I3
Based on where the I3 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific I3
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a I3Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW I3?
In 2025, 87% of BMW I3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 26,183 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 82%.
What do BMW I3 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a tyre seriously damaged (3.6% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.3% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (2.4% of tests).
Other BMW models
BMW 3 Series (73%), BMW 118 (79%), BMW X1 (82%), BMW 116 (72%), BMW X3 (79%), BMW 1 Series (78%). All BMW models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.