Low-voltage battery
usually 120,000–240,000 km · Wear part
Signs: LV battery alert
Fix: Replace
€100–300
Common faults, service intervals and costs
BMW i3
2013–2022
1
engines covered
4
known faults
23,614
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
7
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The BMW i3 was built from 2013 to 2022.
For this generation we cover 1 engines and 4 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is On-board charger (AC) faults: it usually appears at 60,000–180,000 km and costs €500–2,500 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 0–50 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (5.3 %), lights, wipers and visibility (4.7 %), brakes (0.3 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: tyres and wheels.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Electric | None (EV) | — |
Faults by engine
Electric
Brake calipers seizing (low use)
usually 80,000–150,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Uneven pad wear; regen means brakes rarely used
Fix: Service calipers yearly
€100–400
HV battery capacity loss
usually 150,000–300,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Range ~10–15% below new
Fix: Normal ageing; covered 8 yr / 160,000+ km
free / recall
On-board charger (AC) faults
usually 60,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: 'Charging impossible' on AC
Fix: Repair / replace the charger
€500–2,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the Electric engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre rotationWheels | every 10,000 km | €20–45 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Drive unit oil checkTransmission | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Brake pads (regen-assisted)Brakes | usually at 80,000–160,000 km | €60–150 |
| Tyres (set of 4, EV-rated)Wheels | usually at 30,000–50,000 km | €450–900 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 23,614 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 | 150–200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.3 % | 0.9 % | 2.5 % | 2.1 % |
| Suspension | 0.2 % | 0.9 % | 2.1 % | 3.5 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % | 0.1 % | 0.2 % | 0.3 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 5.3 % | 6.4 % | 8.9 % | 10.0 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 4.7 % | 5.1 % | 7.3 % | 9.3 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.2 % | 0.2 % | 0.3 % | 0.6 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.1 % | 0.4 % | 0.7 % | 0.4 % |
Owner complaints in the US
Which systems owners reported to the US agency NHTSA and at what mileage. Complaints are not confirmed faults and some relate to recalls. Sample: 141 complaints.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (7). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- High voltage / charging During supplier s production process of the battery cells a manufacturing defect occurred with the winding of cell-internal films for the high-voltage battery.14/11/2022 · R/2022/322
- Seat belt The micro gas generator within the front seatbelt's retractor may have been damaged30/03/2022 · R/2022/089
- Seat belt The material quality of the screws used for seat belts and rear seats may not be to specifications.29/12/2021 · R/2021/442
- Seats The control ring of the backrest recliner in the second seat row may break28/04/2021 · R/2021/158
- Airbag The air bag control unit may have been equipped with a defective sensor for the rollover detection08/06/2020 · R/2020/162
- Electronics / software The electric motor electronics printed circuit board was not manufactured according to the specifications03/04/2020 · R/2019/289
- Steering Steering may not behave as designed03/12/2015 · R/2015/244
Other generations
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 07/10/2026