BMW I3 MOT pass rate: 89.7% (26,007 tests, 2025)

The BMW I3 passed 89.7% of its 26,007 MOT tests in 2025 — 12.2 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 6 years old with 35,988 miles on the clock.

89.7%Pass rate (2025)

26,007MOT tests analysed

35,988 miMedian mileage at test

6 yrsMedian age at test

How the I3 compares

BMW I3

89.7%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

BMW average (all models)

83.0%

What fails most on the BMW I3

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the I3:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	1,954	46.6%
2	Visibility	554	13.2%
3	Suspension	504	12.0%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	502	12.0%
5	Brakes	376	9.0%
6	Road Wheels	122	2.9%

Pre-MOT checklist for I3 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

I3 pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2014, 2015. Full ranking and method: BMW I3 years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2014	3,515	84.9%	+9.0 pts	60,027
2015	5,675	86.4%	+7.7 pts	55,202
2016	6,382	87.2%	+5.9 pts	50,640
2017	9,360	88.6%	+4.6 pts	47,455
2018	9,074	90.9%	+4.6 pts	36,777
2019	12,050	91.6%	+3.2 pts	29,296
2020	12,267	92.0%	+2.1 pts	22,403
2021	6,867	92.7%	+2.3 pts	20,257
2022	2,902	92.7%	+1.4 pts	17,441

Check a specific I3 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other BMW models

3 Series77.7% pass rate · 346,191 tests 11883.0% pass rate · 151,434 tests X185.0% pass rate · 105,826 tests 11678.5% pass rate · 100,371 tests X383.1% pass rate · 88,755 tests 1 Series81.7% pass rate · 77,207 tests X582.4% pass rate · 76,168 tests 5 Series85.7% pass rate · 71,923 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a BMW I3?

In 2025, 89.7% of 26,007 first MOT tests on the BMW I3 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the I3 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (46.6% of its recorded defects), followed by visibility.

Is the BMW I3 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 89.7% it performs above the national average at a median age of 6 years and 35,988 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.