Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 BMW I3?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 BMW I3?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 BMW I3?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 BMW I3 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 BMW I3 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 175 vehicles, the 2013 BMW I3 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 BMW I3?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 BMW I3 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (36% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (30.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 BMW I3?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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BMW I3 (2013)

175 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89% first-time pass rate

2013 BMW I3

CarHunch analysed 175 real MOT records for the 2013 BMW I3. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2013 BMW i3 comes to its MOT test with a 69.1% first-time pass rate—notably below the UK average of 80%—and a concerning 24% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects, suggesting electrical and structural issues are more prevalent than typical. This is a reliability red flag for a nearly-12-year-old electric car, where battery and drivetrain complexity demands meticulous maintenance.

With a median mileage of just 32,062 miles for a 2013 model, these i3s have been relatively lightly driven, yet still rack up an average of 0.95 failures and 7.5 advisories per test—indicating inherent weaknesses rather than simple wear-and-tear. Before buying one, have a specialist EV technician conduct a pre-purchase inspection focused on battery health, brake fluid condition (electric cars are harder on hydraulics), and electrical harness integrity.

We have limited data for the 2013 BMW I3 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

24%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.95

Over 8.2 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

32k

Middle half: 24k–39k

For context

These stats describe 175 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 175 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 36%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 17.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 7.4%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Lighting 6.7%

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted · Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 175 BMW I3 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 BMW I3

Based on MOT data from 175 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Electric (54%)	95	89.2%	0.64
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (46%)	80	88.8%	1.31

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 BMW I3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

32,062

typical

24,139

low mileage

38,720

high mileage

Half of all 2013 BMW I3 vehicles fall between 24,139 and 38,720 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,139 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 24,139–38,720 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 BMW I3s sit.

⚠ Over 52,272 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 BMW I3 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 BMW I3s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 114 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.95

Avg failures per vehicle

7.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — BMW I3: All I3 years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: BMW →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 BMW I3 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?