2020 BMW i3 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,473 MOT tests on the 2020 BMW i3 are in this dataset, and 92.7% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and lighting & signalling (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 585 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 i3 fails 6.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 1.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 674 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 457 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 231 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 51 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 36 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 585 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 300 |
| 3 | Washers | 189 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 84 |
| 5 | Wipers | 50 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 33 |
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 | 24.1% | 3,252 |
| 2 | Other defects | 4.3% | 586 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 580 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 2.5% | 344 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 239 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 68 |
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 | 9,375 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,697 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 33 | 6.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 185 | 1.6% |
| 2023 | 4,508 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 4,377 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 4,400 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2020 BMW i3s pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 13,473 2020 BMW i3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW i3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2020 i3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 6.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,473 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.