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MOT statistics · 2023 tests

BMW i3 MOT pass rate, common failures and mileage

In 2023, 90.8% of 20,216 MOT tests on the BMW i3 ended in a pass, 14.3 points above the 76.5% average for all cars.

Pass rate
90.8%
All cars 76.5%
Tests
20,216
Initial MOTs in 2023
Mileage at 9
55k
Median; middle half 39k to 75k

Pass rate and mileage by age

Each row covers the BMW i3 MOT tests at that age. Mileage shows the median and the middle half of odometer readings, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.

AgePass rateMileage
23,371 tests
91.9%
17,000 · 11k to 25k
33,863 tests
92.6%
21,000 · 15k to 31k
43,409 tests
91.9%
27,000 · 19k to 39k
52,745 tests
90.6%
37,000 · 25k to 53k
62,599 tests
89.4%
43,000 · 31k to 59k
71,965 tests
90.1%
47,000 · 33k to 63k
81,577 tests
87.3%
53,000 · 37k to 71k
9647 tests
84.2%
55,000 · 39k to 75k
i3 pass rateAll cars at that ageMiddle half of mileages

Most common MOT failures and advisories

How often each item came up, per 100 MOT tests on the BMW i3. Advisories are things the tester noted that did not fail the car, often wear that will need attention soon. Follow an item to see what it means and how serious it is.

Failures

Tyre tread
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
1.4in 100 tests
Tyres
A tyre cords visible or damaged
0.7in 100 tests
Wiper blades
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
0.7in 100 tests
Side indicators
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
0.6in 100 tests
Screen washers
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
0.4in 100 tests
Airbag warning light
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
0.3in 100 tests
Coil springs
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
0.3in 100 tests
Warning lights
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
0.3in 100 tests

Advisories and minor defects

Brake discs
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
4.8in 100 tests
Brake pads
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
3.2in 100 tests
Wheels
A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting
2.4in 100 tests
Tyre tread
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2.0in 100 tests
Windscreen
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view (minor defect)
1.4in 100 tests
Wiper blades
Wiper blade defective (minor defect)
0.6in 100 tests
Number plates
Number plate inscription missing or illegible
0.4in 100 tests
Brake discs
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
0.4in 100 tests

What to check on a used i3

The parts that come up most often in BMW i3 MOTs, and how to look at them on a viewing.

  1. Brake discs and pads
    Ask when the discs and pads were last replaced, and look through the wheel for a raised lip on the edge of the disc.
  2. Wheels
    Look for bent or cracked wheels, and feel for vibration through the steering wheel at speed.
  3. Tyres
    Check the tread across the full width of every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts and bulges in the sidewalls.
  4. Wipers, washers and windscreen
    Run the wipers and washers, and look for chips or cracks in the windscreen, above all in front of the driver.
  5. Lights
    Walk round with every light on, and ask someone to press the brake pedal so you can see both brake lights.

Check a specific i3

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

UK

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate of the BMW i3?
In 2023, 90.8% of 20,216 initial MOT tests on the BMW i3 ended in a pass, against 76.5% for all cars and light vans.
What fails most often on a BMW i3 MOT?
The most common failures were tyre tread (1.4 in 100 tests), tyres (0.7 in 100 tests), wiper blades (0.7 in 100 tests).
What is a normal mileage for a 9-year-old BMW i3?
At 9 years old, the median BMW i3 at its MOT had covered 55,000 miles, and the middle half had between 39,000 and 75,000 miles.
What do MOT testers most often advise on a BMW i3?
The most common advisories were brake discs (4.8 in 100 tests), brake pads (3.2 in 100 tests), wheels (2.4 in 100 tests).

Other BMW models

Overall MOT pass rate in 2023. Compare all BMW models or see every make.

11881.5%11679.5%X185.6%X382.6%X580.5%52079.8%42086.0%21887.0%12077.0%32088.5%Z479.6%53078.3%33087.3%i390.8%M387.2%52574.0%22085.7%X486.9%X684.9%43087.1%43586.6%Z372.0%M487.8%31676.1%64083.6%73083.8%31887.3%53582.9%X287.5%

How these figures are made. We counted every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 from the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Pass rate is the share of initial tests that ended in a pass, counting faults fixed during the test. Age is whole years from first registration to the test, so a car having its first MOT a few weeks early counts as 2.

Like-for-like pass rates average each model's pass rate at ages 3 to 10 with the same age mix for every model, so a model is not flattered by a young fleet or penalised by an old one. Models are grouped by the first word of the DVSA model name, and names that cover several models are left out.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.