2013 BMW i3 — MOT failures & pass rate
688 MOT tests on the 2013 BMW i3 are in this dataset, and 87.5% of them passed. That is 7.0 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests against 2.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 15.6% in the 90-120k band, a 6.1-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 49 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 18 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 25 |
| 2 | Wipers | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 7 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.2% | 180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 155 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.5% | 31 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.5% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 20 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.3% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 84 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 331 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 197 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 407 | 13.3% |
| Electric | 281 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 133 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 139 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 135 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 140 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 i3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (2.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 BMW i3s pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 688 2013 BMW i3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 BMW i3?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2013 i3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 688 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.