BMW i3 MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 86.8% of BMW i3 MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 24,166 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
89.5%
All cars: 86.1% (3.4 points better). 11,223 tests.
At 6–10 years
84.9%
All cars: 76.1% (8.8 points better). 12,316 tests.
At 11 years and over
78.0%
All cars: 61.3% (16.7 points better). 617 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3,301 | 90.4% | 87.8% | 21,250 miles |
| 4 | 4,064 | 89.5% | 86.4% | 26,250 miles |
| 5 | 3,858 | 88.6% | 84.5% | 33,750 miles |
| 6 | 3,426 | 89.1% | 81.9% | 41,250 miles |
| 7 | 2,836 | 85.9% | 79.3% | 51,250 miles |
| 8 | 2,593 | 83.1% | 76.3% | 56,250 miles |
| 9 | 1,941 | 80.7% | 73.1% | 58,750 miles |
| 10 | 1,520 | 81.8% | 70.0% | 63,750 miles |
| 11 | 617 | 78.0% | 66.9% | 68,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of BMW i3 MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | i3 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.5% | 8.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.5% | 16.6% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Suspension | 2.1% | 13.7% |
| Brakes | 1.5% | 10.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.3% | 0.4% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 2.6% of tests
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 2.3% of tests
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 2.0% of tests · what this means
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 1.4% of tests · what this means
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid failed 1.4% of tests · what this means
- Coil spring: fractured or broken failed 1.1% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed failed 0.9% of tests
- Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure failed 0.7% of tests
- Side repeaters: not working failed 0.6% of tests
- Headlamp aim: too low failed 0.5% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular i3?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every i3 version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: electric 65.3%, hybrid electric (clean) 34.7%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other BMW models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.