Used BMW i3 — What MOT History Tells You

The MOT test is a legal requirement for all cars over three years old in the UK, and the test history is a goldmine of information for used car buyers. For the BMW i3, the MOT record can reveal patterns of wear, highlight potential issues, and give you genuine insight into how well the car has been maintained. Here is how to read and interpret the MOT history of a used BMW i3.

How to Access MOT History

Every MOT result since 2005 is recorded on the GOV.UK MOT history checker. All you need is the vehicle registration number. The record shows pass or fail results, mileage at each test, advisory notes, and the reasons for any failures. This is free to access and takes seconds.

For a used i3 purchase, always check the MOT history before viewing the car. It can save you a wasted journey if the record reveals serious or recurring issues.

Mileage Verification

The MOT record provides an annual mileage snapshot that is invaluable for verifying the odometer reading. Look at the mileage recorded at each MOT and check that the figures increase consistently from year to year. Any significant discrepancies — such as a sudden drop in recorded mileage — could indicate odometer tampering, which unfortunately does occur in the used car market.

For the i3, consistent mileage of 6,000 to 12,000 miles per year is typical of a daily commuter. Very low annual mileage (under 3,000 miles) might suggest the car was used infrequently, which can actually be detrimental to battery health if the battery was left sitting at extreme states of charge for extended periods.

Common MOT Advisories for the BMW i3

Advisory notes are items that the tester has flagged as approaching the point where they would fail but have not yet reached that threshold. These are particularly useful for understanding the condition of the car. Here are the most common advisories seen on i3 MOT records:

Tyre Condition

The i3 unusual narrow tyres (155/70 R19 front, 175/60 R19 rear) appear frequently in MOT advisories. Common notes include:

• Tyre tread approaching the legal minimum (1.6 mm)
• Uneven tyre wear, suggesting alignment issues
• Damage to tyre sidewalls

Repeated tyre advisories across multiple MOTs may indicate an underlying alignment problem that has not been addressed. Given the i3 unusual tyre sizes and their higher replacement cost (£100 to £150 per tyre), this is worth investigating. Check our guide on common problems for more on tyre-related issues.

Brake Condition

Thanks to regenerative braking, the i3 mechanical brakes see far less use than those on a conventional car. This means brake pad wear is typically very slow, which is good. However, it can also mean that brake discs corrode from infrequent use, particularly if the car covers low mileage or sits unused for periods.

Common brake-related advisories include:

• Brake disc surface corroded or pitted
• Brake disc lightly scored
• Brake pad material approaching minimum

Light disc corrosion is extremely common on the i3 and is not usually a cause for concern. Heavy corrosion or deep scoring may require disc replacement, which costs around £200 to £350 per axle including pads.

Suspension Components

Suspension wear items appear on i3 MOT records with moderate frequency, particularly on higher-mileage examples. Look for:

• Anti-roll bar linkage worn or has slight play
• Suspension arm bush deteriorated
• Shock absorber leaking slightly

These are typical wear-and-tear items that affect all cars as they age. On the i3, anti-roll bar links are the most commonly replaced suspension component, costing £100 to £200 for parts and labour.

Lighting

The i3 uses a mix of LED and conventional bulbs depending on the model year and specification. MOT advisories related to lighting might include:

• Headlamp aim slightly out of adjustment
• Rear fog lamp slightly dim or discoloured
• Registration plate lamp dim

These are minor issues that are inexpensive to rectify. LED headlamp units are more expensive to replace if they fail entirely, but this is uncommon.

Windscreen

Windscreen chips and cracks appear in MOT records for all cars, and the i3 is no exception. An advisory for a chip in the swept area of the windscreen wiper may require a windscreen replacement before the next MOT if the chip worsens. i3 windscreens typically cost £250 to £400 to replace.

Common MOT Failures on the BMW i3

While the i3 has a good MOT pass rate overall, the most common failure points are:

Tyres Below Legal Limit

The most frequent failure reason for i3s. Some owners push tyres to the limit given their higher cost, resulting in MOT failures. A failed MOT for tyres is not necessarily a red flag about the car itself, but if it happens repeatedly, it may suggest the previous owner was cutting corners on maintenance.

Brake Disc Condition

Severe disc corrosion can cause an MOT failure. This is more likely on cars that have covered very low mileage or been used only for short trips where the brakes rarely get hot enough to burn off surface rust.

Suspension Defects

Worn bushes, ball joints, or anti-roll bar links that have progressed beyond the advisory stage will cause a failure. These are straightforward repairs at any BMW dealer or independent specialist.

Emissions (Range Extender Only)

The i3 REx (Range Extender) models must pass an emissions test for the petrol engine, even though it runs infrequently. A poorly maintained REx engine or stale fuel can cause an emissions failure. If you are considering an REx model, check the MOT record specifically for emissions test results. Pure electric i3 models are not subject to emissions testing.

What the MOT Does Not Tell You

While the MOT is an excellent source of information, it has significant limitations for EV buyers:

• Battery health is not tested: The MOT does not assess the high-voltage battery capacity, State of Health, or any degradation. You need a separate diagnostic check for this — see our battery health buying guide.
• 12V battery is not checked: The small auxiliary battery that commonly fails on the i3 is not part of the MOT test.
• Charging system is not tested: The MOT does not verify that the onboard charger or charging port functions correctly.
• Software and electronics: Infotainment glitches, Bluetooth issues, and software faults are outside the MOT scope.
• Body panel condition: The plastic body panels can crack or discolour, but the MOT does not assess cosmetic bodywork issues unless they pose a safety risk.

For these reasons, the MOT history should be one part of your pre-purchase due diligence, not the entirety of it.

Reading the Patterns

The real value of the MOT history lies in identifying patterns over time:

• Clean record with few advisories: Suggests a well-maintained car with an attentive owner. This is the ideal scenario.
• Consistent advisories that are never addressed: If the same issue appears year after year (for example, worn suspension), the owner may have been neglecting maintenance.
• Multiple failures in succession: Suggests the car may have been poorly maintained during a particular period of ownership. Check whether the failures have since been addressed.
• Sudden increase in advisories: A car that had clean MOTs and then suddenly accumulates multiple advisories may have entered a period of neglect or could be reaching an age where multiple components wear simultaneously.
• Very low mileage between tests: Could indicate the car was barely used, which as noted can actually be detrimental to battery health and can cause brake disc corrosion.

Using MOT History in Price Negotiations

The MOT record is a powerful negotiating tool. If the current MOT has advisory notes, you can legitimately use these to negotiate a lower price, citing the cost of addressing them. For example:

• Tyre advisory: deduct £200 to £400 for a set of replacements
• Brake disc advisory: deduct £200 to £350 for disc replacement
• Suspension advisory: deduct £100 to £200 for link replacement

Even if the seller disputes the deductions, having the MOT evidence strengthens your bargaining position.

Checking MOT Expiry

Verify that the car has a current, valid MOT. A car sold without a valid MOT cannot legally be driven on the road (except directly to a pre-booked MOT test). If the MOT is due to expire soon, you might ask the seller to put the car through a fresh MOT before purchase, giving you the reassurance of a clean pass and a full 12 months of validity.

Combining MOT History with Other Checks

For a thorough pre-purchase assessment, combine the MOT history with:

• A full battery diagnostic (see our battery health guide)
• An HPI check for outstanding finance, write-off history, and theft records
• A test drive covering a variety of road types
• A visual inspection of body panels, interior, and charging equipment
• Service history verification
• Use of Zap-Map to confirm local charging infrastructure

For a complete overview of what to look for, our guide on common problems before buying provides a comprehensive checklist.

Summary

The MOT history is a free, easily accessible, and incredibly useful tool for any used BMW i3 buyer. It provides verified mileage data, highlights patterns of wear, reveals any failed tests, and gives you ammunition for price negotiation. While it cannot tell you everything — particularly about battery health and electrical systems — it forms an essential part of your due diligence. Take the five minutes to check it before every viewing, and you will arrive better informed and better prepared to make a smart purchase decision.