Reliability report
BMW i3s reliability and common faults
Based on 3,235 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
32.0%
with defects · average 32.8%
about average
3,235 APK inspections (RDW)
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the BMW i3s
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Body and structure
Wheels
Tyres
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Seat belts and airbags
Brakes
Suspension
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Tyre damaged
- 6Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | — | 30.4% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | — | 33.1% avg 36.7% |
BMW i3s – FAQs
How reliable is the BMW i3s?+
In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 32.0% of APK inspections (average there 32.8%) – about average.
What goes wrong most often on the BMW i3s?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: tyres.
What should I check when buying a used BMW i3s?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre damaged. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More BMW models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).