2018 BMW I3 MOT pass rate: 90.9% (9,074 tests)
Is the 2018 I3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91.8% +3.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 90.3% +4.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 90.7% +5.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2018 I3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 753 | 58.2% |
| 2 | Visibility | 143 | 11.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 104 | 8.0% |
| 4 | Brakes | 91 | 7.0% |
| 5 | Suspension | 85 | 6.6% |
| 6 | Road Wheels | 34 | 2.6% |
All I3 years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: BMW I3 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2018 BMW I3 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 90.9% of their MOT tests (9,074 tests, 2023–2025), +4.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 36,777 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 I3?
The median tested example shows 36,777 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.