2015 BMW i3 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,732 MOT tests on the 2015 BMW i3 are in this dataset, and 89.0% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2015 i3 comes out 4.5pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, washers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 296 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 i3 fails 8.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 10.8% of the time against 11.1% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 531 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 342 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 291 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 179 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 156 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 140 |
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 | 296 |
| 2 | Washers | 208 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 200 |
| 4 | Wipers | 182 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 165 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 75 |
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 | 26.4% | 2,832 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 1,455 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 552 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.2% | 346 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 343 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.1% | 328 |
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 | 2,114 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,792 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,743 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 838 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 210 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 7,943 | 11.1% |
| Electric | 2,789 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,179 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 2,126 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 2,128 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 2,157 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 2,142 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 i3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.0% 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 (3.2% 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 (2.7% 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 2015 BMW i3s pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 10,732 2015 BMW i3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW i3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2015 i3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,732 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.